Kerry Warns of Possible Consequences of Collapse of Palestinian Authority

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, warned on Saturday, December 5, about the consequences of the collapse of the Palestinian Authority for the Israeli government. According to AFP, since the beginning of October, a new round of clashes between Israelis and Palestinians has resulted in at least 109 Palestinians, 17 Israelis, and one American being killed. The report states that Israeli officials implicitly suggest that violence is likely to continue. AFP adds that Palestinians have become disillusioned after decades of fruitless negotiations to resolve the conflict with Israel, while they have also lost trust in the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas. In a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, Kerry stated, "I have never seen Mahmoud Abbas speak so despairingly about the feelings of despair among the Palestinian people." The U.S. Secretary of State, while calling for an end to the violence between Palestinians and Israelis, emphasized that the level of distrust between the two sides has never been this high. Kerry said, "Without the security forces of the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Defense will have to deploy thousands of soldiers in the West Bank." He stressed, "Are Israelis prepared to accept the consequences of such an event for their children and grandchildren who will serve in the Ministry of Defense and will inevitably face violence and conflict?" In another part of his remarks, the U.S. Secretary of State referred to the issue of settlements in Palestinian territories, stating that the continued expansion of settlements raises clear questions about the long-term intentions of Israelis and will make separation from the Palestinians more difficult. He added, "There are no easy answers to these questions, but we cannot stop trying to find solutions that bring us closer to peace." Following the Oslo Accords signed between Palestinians and Israel in 1993, the Palestinian Authority was established. This authority emerged from the Palestine Liberation Organization and was responsible for governing parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, in 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza.