Suffocating the West Bank: The PA as Israel’s Strategic Asset

This chapter examines the Palestinian Authority’s 0(PA) role in reinforcing Israel’s colonial dominance over the West Bank, portraying it as integral to Israel’s control. It delves into how the Oslo Accords compelled the Fatah-led Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and subsequently the Fatah-led PA to serve as enforcers of Israeli interests, effectively co-opting segments of the national liberation movement. The analysis centres on three dimensions: the political, the security, and the economic. First, politically, the PA has stifled anti-colonial dissent through centralised institutions, eroding the PLO’s efficacy as a conduit for Palestinian aspirations. Second, in security matters, the PA’s collaboration with Israeli forces has aimed to suppress Palestinian resistance, ensuring a conducive environment for Israeli dominance. Lastly, economically, the PA perpetuates dependency that favours Israeli interests, prioritising stability over genuine development. These policies consolidate an elite-controlled system, amplifying inequality and stifling dissent. The chapter underscores the PA’s complicity in hindering Palestinian self-determination and its transformation into a mechanism of colonial subjugation.