Israeli Minister Predicts Collapse of Palestinian Authority

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By JTA February 29, 2016

An Israeli government minister predicted the collapse of the Palestinian Authority.

“The question is not if the PA collapses but when it is going to collapse,” said Immigrant Absorption and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin on Monday during a speech at Bar-Ilan University. “It can happen in a month or two or a year or two tops.”

Elkin called the current wave of terror a “promo” for what will happen after the PA collapses.

“Israeli citizens will pay the price for anarchy in the PA, especially the settlements, and we must prepare for more difficult attacks,” he said.

Elkin reportedly said he took his warnings public after he tried to discuss the issue at Cabinet meetings with no success.

Elkin also said that the PA has no system to choose a successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and that “the most probable scenario is a violent succession struggle in the PA.”

He added that: “If the PA collapses the world will blame Israel,” and that the international community of nations will withdraw financial support to the Palestinians.

“If we don’t prepare for the collapse of the PA the reality will force itself on us and the cost will be dear,” he warned.

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