After the Palestinian Authority cut security ties with Israel due to the latter's intentions to apply sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, Ynet has learned that the Palestinian government started cooperating with the rival Tanzim militant group to maintain order in Palestinian localities that are under Israeli control.
This seems to bring a relative lull after long years of tensions between the armed offshoot of the ruling-Fatah party and Palestinian authorities. Tanzim militants and Palestinian security forces often used to clash as government soldiers tried to instill order in Tanzim-controlled areas, such as Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank.
Special emergency committees were set up in Palestinian towns, comprised of Tanzim activists, past and present security personnel, and local dignitaries sitting side by side.
These committees are meant to bridge internal disputes and conflicts that may arise occasionally between civilians of the same town, or between residents of neighboring towns and villages. These disputes often end in severe violence between the parties and lead to casualties.
Prior to the cessation of security coordination, Israel allowed Palestinian armed forces to enter these areas as disputes spiraled into violence.
However, since security ties were severed, armed Palestinian security personnel are no longer allowed to move freely within Israeli-controlled territories. This led to a spike in the number of casualties in violent conflicts, since Palestinian police forces are no longer allowed to enter these areas and restore order.
Palestinian officials told Ynet that these emergency committees are not officially armed, but each town with Tanzim presence also has weapons that could be used if needed.
The officials also said that this unusual cooperation between the Palestinian government and Tanzim could embolden the militant group's members to point their weapons at Israeli security forces in case tensions escalate due to a potential annexation of West Bank territories.
The Israeli security system is also aware of the emerging problem but has no ability to intervene for the time being.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said on Monday that If Israel annexes parts of the West Bank, the Palestinians will unilaterally declare a state based on pre-1967 borders.
Speaking at a foreign press conference in Ramallah on Tuesday, Shtayyeh said that if Israel moves ahead with annexation, which he called an "existential threat" to the Palestinians, it will be a serious violation of agreements with the PA.