Netanyahu not destabilized over Palestinians cutting security coordination
The announcement by the Palestinian Authority of cutting security coordination and warnings by Jordan's King Abdullah have not destabilized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his settlement annexation plan.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared May 20 that he is no longer committed to the agreements signed with Israel, including the security commitments. But there are those in Israel who believe that suspending security coordination will not last long. “Abbas needs the security coordination with Israel just as much as Israel does,” a Likud minister told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “If he undermines the coordination, he will be hurting himself and he knows it.”
This comment might explain why official Israel has been keeping mum and refraining from reactions to Abbas’ escalating declarations. Neither Netanyahu nor his government colleagues made any statements over the halting of security coordination — an issue of vital importance in the battle against terror acts in the West Bank and inside Israel. Judging from the minister's comment, Netanyahu is estimating that he should not fan the flames, but rather leave Abbas an opening to withdraw from his decision.
