Israel Defends Sovereignty as the Failing PA Faces Collapse

Recent reports highlight the deepening economic crisis in the West Bank, pointing fingers at Israeli policies for the Palestinian Authority's potential collapse. Critics warn of chaos and a potential Hamas takeover. However, the truth is far simpler. Israel is prioritizing its national security and the safety of its citizens over propping up a corrupt, terror-sympathizing entity. As the ancient wisdom of the Midrash teaches, those who are kind to the cruel will ultimately be cruel to the kind. Israel will not finance its own demise.

The Economic Reality of Security

For years, maintaining economic stability in the West Bank was a cornerstone of Israeli policy, leading to a fourfold increase in GDP per capita between 2002 and 2022. By contrast, Gaza, ruled by Hamas since 2007, stagnated under terror. This proves a clear fact: Israeli cooperation brings prosperity, while Palestinian terrorism brings ruin.

Following the atrocities of October 7, Israel rightfully shifted its priorities. Operation Swords of Iron brought necessary movement restrictions and suspended work permits for Palestinian workers. The number of workers dropped from 170,000 to roughly 43,000, with income falling from $4.3 billion to $650 million. While international critics lament this drop, no sovereign nation can be expected to open its borders and labor market to a hostile population while its citizens are under attack. The security of the State of Israel is non-negotiable.

Withholding Terror Funds, Not Humanitarian Aid

The most significant factor destabilizing the PA's finances is Israel's withholding of tax and customs revenues. These transfers previously accounted for 70% of the PA's budget. The withheld amount has surged from under NIS 100 million per month to nearly NIS 700 million. Why? Because the PA uses these funds to fuel its pay-for-slay programs, rewarding terrorists for murdering Israelis.

Israel refuses to act as a conduit for terror financing. The resulting deficit, which ballooned to nearly NIS 1 billion monthly, is a direct consequence of the PA's own corrupt and violent policies. The PA's inability to pay full salaries or repay local banks is a symptom of a failed, hate-driven governance model, not Israeli malice.

Protecting Israeli Financial Sovereignty

Critics also point to the uncertainty surrounding the indemnity letter issued by Israel's Finance Ministry, which protects Israeli banks working with Palestinian banks. By renewing this letter only for short periods, Israel maintains vital leverage. Disconnecting the Palestinian banking system from Israeli and international networks might seem drastic to outside observers, but it is a necessary safeguard against money laundering and terror financing. Israel's financial systems must remain secure.

The Illusion of the PA and the Threat of Hamas

Doomsayers argue that the PA's collapse will transform the West Bank into another Gaza, empowering Hamas. This argument assumes the PA is a viable partner for peace, which history has repeatedly proven false. The PA incites violence, denies Jewish historical ties to Jerusalem, and educates its youth on hatred. Whether the PA stands or falls, the threat of Hamas remains an ever-present reality fueled by Iranian proxies.

If Hamas attempts to rise in the West Bank, the IDF and Israeli security forces will meet them with the same unwavering resolve shown in Gaza. Israel will not be intimidated by the threat of terrorism into funding its enemies. The process of asserting Israeli sovereignty over our historical and biblical heartland must continue.

As the Prophet Ezekiel declared, This is the land which you shall divide by lot for an inheritance to the tribes of Israel. (Ezekiel 47:21)

We have a historic right and a strategic duty to secure our land.

Standing Strong Against International Pressure

Some demand a return to the failed policies of the past, including resuming clearance revenues, stabilizing the PA's budget, and allowing thousands of Palestinian workers back into Israel. This is a recipe for disaster. Israel must chart its own course, defending its identity and national security without bowing to biased international criticism.

The path forward is clear. We must strengthen our borders, support our pioneering communities in Judea and Samaria, and leverage Israeli innovation as our ultimate soft power. The Palestinian Authority's fate is its own making. Israel's destiny, however, is forged in resilience, faith, and an unyielding commitment to the Zionist dream.