Palestinian Authority's Security Cooperation with Israel Resumed 'Fully'

According to Palestinian and Israeli media, Hazem Atallah, the head of the Palestinian police, confirmed on Wednesday, November 8, the renewal of full security cooperation and coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Hazem Atallah stated at a press conference in Ramallah in the West Bank that some security cooperation had been renewed two weeks ago and has now returned 'to the previous level' completely. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, had ordered the cessation of security cooperation with Israel in protest against the heightened security measures that Israel had imposed regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in mid-summer. Meanwhile, the head of the Palestinian police stated on Wednesday that cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli security forces had 'never completely stopped' in recent months and that '95 percent of this cooperation continued,' with only officers from both sides not meeting with each other. Hazem Atallah argued in support of renewing security cooperation with Israel, saying, 'We work for the people and do not care about politics.' The Palestinian police chief also confirmed that Palestinian security forces had thwarted seven attack plans that were organized by Palestinians from the West Bank against Israelis just last month. Hazem Atallah stated, 'Anyone who disrupts stability and security will be arrested; this is our clear order.' The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority had identified and thwarted 'hundreds of terrorist plans against Israelis' over the past two years. Israeli-Palestinian political talks have been stalled since 2014, but Rami Hamdallah, the Palestinian Prime Minister, met two weeks ago in Jerusalem with Moshe Kahlon, the Israeli Finance Minister. Israeli media reported that the Hamdallah-Kahlon meeting was the result of efforts by the Trump administration. Jason Greenblatt, the U.S. President's envoy for Israeli-Palestinian peace, met separately with the Israeli Prime Minister and the head of the Palestinian Authority two weeks ago during his eighth mission to the region. Fatah and Hamas signed a national reconciliation agreement last month, mediated by Egypt in Cairo. The Palestinian National Accord allows the Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza affairs after ten years of Hamas's dominance over the strip. Last week, Hamas transferred responsibility for several border crossings to the security forces of the Palestinian Authority based on the national reconciliation agreement. Hazem Atallah, the head of the Palestinian police, reiterated Mahmoud Abbas's statements regarding the disarmament of Hamas's military wing, stating that under the national reconciliation government, 'it is impossible' for Hamas to possess weapons and rockets. Meanwhile, Hamas strongly criticized the renewal of the Palestinian Authority's security cooperation with Israel. According to Palestinian media, Hamas spokespeople stated on Thursday, November 9, in Gaza that security cooperation with the Zionist regime is 'treason' to the Palestinian people.