In the shadow of the clashes in Jenin: the PA is asking the US for unprecedented military assistance

The Palestinian Authority has submitted a request to the United States for a military aid package amounting to 680 million dollars for four years, the Palestinian news agency “Shiyav” reported today (Tuesday). The request, which was submitted in the middle of last December, was intended to support the training of special forces and strengthen the supply of ammunition and armored vehicles for the Palestinian security forces.

During a meeting held at the Interior Ministry of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, senior Palestinian security officials expressed their frustration at what they see as an American failure to meet commitments to renew the supply of weapons and the training of special forces. According to one of the sources, the senior officials requested an urgent response to the needs of the armored vehicle and ammunition in light of the ongoing clashes in the Jenin refugee camp.

Since last month, the Palestinian security forces have been conducting a military operation in the Jenin camp, claiming to be chasing what they call “lawbreakers”. Palestinian organizations, including Hamas, the Popular Front and Islamic Jihad, accused the Palestinian security forces of persecuting resistance fighters. In the clashes, 14 people were killed, including six members of the security forces and eight civilians, including one of the commanders of the Jenin Battalion.

A former senior US intelligence official noted that the Palestinian Authority’s request for additional funding is understandable, as the United States has been pressuring it for months to increase security activity in the West Bank. According to reports, the American security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, General Michael Finzel, met with senior Palestinian Authority officials and reviewed their plans for an attack on Jenin.

It is important to note that the approval of the request for military aid depends on Israel’s consent. According to the “Axius” website, the United States already turned to Israel last month with a request to approve an aid package. Former US security officials have expressed doubt about the chances of approving the aid during the expected term of the president-elect, who is expected to return to office later this month.