Mofaz: PA faces severe crisis
Defense minister: Hamas' strengthening, Fatah split could lead to postponement or cancellation of January elections
"The Palestinian Authority is facing a severe crisis. No doubt the Palestinian establishment is at a decisive stage because of Hamas' strengthening and the crisis within the Fatah, which could bring about the postponement or cancellation of PA elections in January," Mofaz during Sunday’s cabinet meeting.
"The rise in terror in the Gaza Strip, Samaria and Judea (West Bank) can be attributed to the increasingly powerless Palestinian Authority," he said.
According to the defense minister, security are dealing with six specific warnings regarding terror attacks in Israel and 43 intelligence tips regarding Palestinian terror groups' plans to carry out attacks in Israel.
"The IDF has increased its forces in Samaria and Judea and is involved in a wide-scale operation in Nablus and northern Samaria. At this time, 70 terror activists have been detained in the operation," he added.
Mofaz also informed the ministers about the increased number of attempted bombings and Qassam rocket attacks in the Gaza Strip.
"We renewed our targeted killings and were successful in preventing a serious terror attack at the Karni crossing," he said, adding that as a result full closure was placed on the territories.
Mofaz also raised the idea of conducting a Palestinian convoy trial-run from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, "with the approval and in coordination with the prime minister, and only if there is no doubt Israeli citizens are not in danger.”
Solana: Hamas may stand in way of financial aid
Meanwhile, European Union envoy Javier Solana met with Shimon Peres Sunday and said Hamas must disarm, stop the violence and declare its objection to terror.
"It will be complicated for the European Union to continue financing Palestinian Authority activities if Hamas continues to play a negative role in the process and will not renounce violence," he said.
Peres said during the meeting that Islamic Jihad receives orders from Syria and is activated by Iran.
"Jordan can fulfill an important role in the West Bank, as Egypt did for Gaza. Jordan's economic development will assist attaining solutions for the region," he said.
PA: Pressure on Abbas to delay elections
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported that senior Fatah members are pressing PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to delay parliamentary elections scheduled for January, following recent internal divisions within the movement.
Fatah member Azam al-Ahmad said the elections should be postponed because the peace process has reached a dead-end and because of internal anarchy within the party.
PA officials estimated that if the difficulties in uniting the two Fatah lists continue, Abbas will consider the request to postpone elections.
Abbas, infuriated by recent internal disputes, threatened to resign Saturday following a failed attempt to merge the two lists.
Former minister and Marwan Barghouti supporter Kadura Fares said all that is left for Fatah members to do is to vote for one of the two lists, in the hope that this would not harm their chances.
One PA source estimated that renewed U.S. pressure regarding the participation of Hamas in the upcoming elections may influence Abbas' decision to delay it.
In light of Hamas' impressive victory in recent municipal elections, Barghouti and his supporters are showing signs of flexibility and are prepared to attempt once again to merge the lists.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.
Ali Waked contributed to the report
