Ex-general calls to dismantle Palestinian Authority, squash internal threats

Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Wiener, the new president of the Bithonistim security NGO, advocates for the immediate dismantling of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a crucial step for Israel's long-term security in Judea and Samaria. Wiener, who has extensive experience in the IDF, including during the Israel-Hamas War, believes the PA is a detrimental entity that actively promotes terror and equips Israel's adversaries.

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It is a negative. It educates children toward terror. It arms our enemies.

"It is a negative. It educates children toward terror. It arms our enemies," Wiener stated in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. He argued that even if the PA has not been directly involved in recent conflicts, its existence poses a threat. Wiener proposed that the IDF should retake control of Areas A and B, asserting that the Oslo Accords have failed. He suggested the PA could potentially continue in a limited civilian capacity, aligning with its original intended role.

Wiener also floated an alternative model, drawing a parallel to the UAE's approach of using tribal groups for maintaining peace, similar to strategies Israel employs in parts of Gaza. He described the PA as an "alien" entity that was imposed on the region. Addressing potential international opposition, particularly from the United States, Wiener believes that if Israel's top security officials, like the IDF chief and Shin Bet, publicly label the PA as a threat, it could shift global perspectives and garner support for Israel's position.

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The battle over who will succeed him will be very large. So the PA is a burden. The time has come to say Oslo failed. The IDF needs to retake Areas A and B and to take apart the PA. It can remain in a civilian capacity, which was the original plan.

"We cannot fight with everyone on all fronts all of the time, but we are putting facts on the table," Wiener said, acknowledging the complexities of international relations. He indicated that his organization, Bithonistim, would focus on establishing security facts on the ground and influencing policy, even amidst anticipated elections and official concerns about electability.

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If the IDF chief says the PA is a threat and the Shin Bet says this also, this could change the public view and then help convince the Americans. This is the agenda.