An officer of the Palestinian Authority prepares for a raid on militants in the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 16. AP
An officer of the Palestinian Authority prepares for a raid on militants in the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 16. AP
An officer of the Palestinian Authority prepares for a raid on militants in the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 16. AP
An officer of the Palestinian Authority prepares for a raid on militants in the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 16. AP

Inside the Palestinian Authority’s struggle to cling to power in the West Bank


Thomas Helm
  • English
  • Arabic

In the past week, the Palestinian Authority has made its most intense show of force in years. Its security forces have surrounded and are attacking the occupied West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, long centres of Palestinian resistance.

At least three militants have been killed, including commander Yazid Ja’aysa, and one civilian, while about 20 people have been injured. The people of Jenin are familiar with deadly fighting, but almost exclusively at the hands of Israelis, not Palestinians.

The operation is viewed as a test or a sign of desperation for an organisation that has fast been losing legitimacy among its people, particularly in the north of the West Bank. It faces accusations of corruption and helplessness in the face of escalating violence from the Israeli military and settlers.

The Palestinian Authority is “trying to demonstrate to the Americans that they have full control and are able to do what they were mandated to do … particularly if annexation is looming,” Tahani Mustafa, Crisis Group’s senior Palestine analyst, told The National about the latest operation. “This is more of a stunt that the PA trying to get to grips with things on the ground.”

In recent months, The National has spoken to Palestinian Authority officials who deal with security and visited their base of operations. In Nablus, a city neighbouring Jenin that is surrounded by many Israeli settlements, Palestinian Authority governor Ghassan Daghlas spoke about the increasing difficulty of keeping order in his city.

“There are 440,000 inhabitants in Nablus governorate. They suffer the most of anyone in the West Bank from Israeli violence and settler attacks,” he said.

Israeli forces recently killed four men inside a car next to a busy market in broad daylight. Mr Daghlas was still shaken by the killing. The men, former militants from a refugee camp in the city, had been in his office hours before their deaths, negotiating their surrender to the Palestinian Authority.

This was part of an arrangement that has long been in place, viewed as an effective way for the Palestinian Authority to get men away from violence. In exchange for their weapons, the Palestinian Authority gives them jobs in security and tells the Israelis that they no longer bear arms.

Palestinian mourners follow the body of Jihad Abu Salim during his funeral at the Balata refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, 12 December 2024. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry Abu Salim was killed in a raid by Israeli troops early 12 December. EPA
Palestinian mourners follow the body of Jihad Abu Salim during his funeral at the Balata refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, 12 December 2024. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry Abu Salim was killed in a raid by Israeli troops early 12 December. EPA

“The Israeli raids really weakens us as an authority and the ruling power here. The four guys that were assassinated last week – an hour before they were killed they were sitting here in my office. They were here to solve an issue. They didn’t have a single weapon on them when they were killed,” Mr Daghlas said.

“Israel is embarrassing us with their raids. Embarrassing us and weakening us. We are trying to makes achievements and Israel is destroying everything we worked on.”

From officials to officers and senior generals, all agree that the situation has never been more complex.

At Al Istiklal University in Jericho, more than 700 of the Palestinian Authority's latest generation of officers marched around a sprawling campus of parade grounds, sports facilities and living quarters. Discipline was high and cadets quickly salute senior officers.

Ali Ayaydeh, deputy chairman of the university, said the institution’s mission is to create officers who embody “peaceful resistance according to the vision of [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas”.

“What we teach here is to meet the needs and security demands of Palestine, whether in the West Bank or Gaza.”

Once the cadets leave, many will go to areas like Jenin and the rest of the north of the West Bank, where the most acute security issues are found.

“We work not on physical strength but on intelligence, how to think, to work and to see things, particularly because we are in a very sensitive situation as officers working under occupation,” Dr Ayaydeh said.

Officer cadet Riad Darraj from Ramallah agreed. “We come here to support Palestine and its society. Some young people go abroad but we say no, we’re staying here to support our land and nation,” he said.

Cadet Darraj and his many young colleagues were clear about the danger of joining an organisation that might include a role in postwar security in Gaza, likely a very dangerous task that the young recruits said they were ready to take on, as if managing the West Bank was not hard enough.

A Palestinian Authority watchtower is dotted with bullets after coming under militant fire during a raid by Palestinian security forces on the Jenin refugee camp. AP
A Palestinian Authority watchtower is dotted with bullets after coming under militant fire during a raid by Palestinian security forces on the Jenin refugee camp. AP

But despite their determination in the pristine campus, problems were clear. Brig Gen Zaher Sabah, deputy chairman for military affairs at the university, spoke at length about the difficulty of providing an education. “One of the biggest challenges is the checkpoints that face us and our students,” he said.

The general, like many Palestinian Authority employees, had been on a significantly reduced salary for months given an economic crisis and financial disputes with Israeli authorities who collect tax revenue on behalf of the body.

The far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu, in power for almost two years, has many members who would happily watch the Palestinian Authority collapse. The events of October 7 last year that cost 1,200 Israelis their lives heralded a heavy Israeli security presence in the region and spurred unprecedented settler violence.

Another challenge for the Palestinian Authority came in November, when Donald Trump won the US presidential elections. He is a staunch pro-Israel supporter with a clear determination to quickly end the war in Gaza, perhaps by permitting Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, which would lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is not sympathetic towards the Palestinian Authority. Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is not sympathetic towards the Palestinian Authority. Reuters
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full

1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates

October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)

October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)

November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)

November 28-30: Dubai International Rally

January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)

March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)

April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E646hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E830Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwo-speed%20auto%20(rear%20axle)%3B%20single-speed%20auto%20(front)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh552%2C311%3B%20Dh660%2C408%20(as%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg

Two stars

FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

Thor: Ragnarok

Dir: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson

Four stars

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Shipsy%3Cbr%3EYear%20of%20inception%3A%202015%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Soham%20Chokshi%2C%20Dhruv%20Agrawal%2C%20Harsh%20Kumar%20and%20Himanshu%20Gupta%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20India%2C%20UAE%20and%20Indonesia%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20logistics%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%20more%20than%20350%20employees%3Cbr%3EFunding%20received%20so%20far%3A%20%2431%20million%20in%20series%20A%20and%20B%20rounds%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Info%20Edge%2C%20Sequoia%20Capital%E2%80%99s%20Surge%2C%20A91%20Partners%20and%20Z3%20Partners%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Ferrari
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Mann%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adam%20Driver%2C%20Penelope%20Cruz%2C%20Shailene%20Woodley%2C%20Patrick%20Dempsey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Knight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMark%20Ruffalo%2C%20Hugh%20Laurie%2C%20Aria%20Mia%20Loberti%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)

Charles 57, Amla 47

Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)

Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9

Bangla Tiger win by five wickets

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
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RESULT

Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: 
Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')

Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 

What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate

TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out  ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

Updated: December 17, 2024, 5:04 PM