26
Developing an Israeli Grand Strategy toward
a Peaceful Two-State Solution
Expanding the powers of the Palestinian security forces
Implementing most of the components of the project involves
deciding on an Israel-PA agreement and implementing it
through coordination between both sides, with the assistance
of the United States and other relevant international bodies.
The basic premises underlying the plan
The plan depends on the sides entering into negotiations. In
the absence of negotiations, it will be difficult to convince the
Israeli public that a transfer of responsibility to the Palestinian
security forces is necessary. The plan assumes that during
the negotiation process, no settlements will be evacuated
and that all roads regularly used by the settlers will remain
under IDF security responsibility. The plan also assumes
that the training of Palestinian forces and the enhancement
of their capabilities will be stepped up by the international
training parties: the USSC and EUPOL COPPS. The IDF will
reserve the right to enter any territory transferred to Palestinian
responsibility in cases of a “ticking bomb,” but only after the
PA has failed to address the problem or take necessary action.
Authority to enter Palestinian territories will be granted to the
IDF at the level of the defense minister and prime minister.
The proposed pilot program involves the transfer of security
responsibilities to the PA in the pilot area, which will mainly
consist of areas A and B, but also in those parts of Area C
where there are no IDF bases, Israeli settlers or roads used
daily by settlers.
Gradual expansion of the pilot area to other areas
In accordance with the process described here, security
authority will be transferred to the PA in the various areas
that make up the pilot area, one area at a time, paralleling
reduction in IDF military operations in the relevant area. The
arrangement involving expansion of the pilot area to additional
areas will be based on the area’s importance and political
sensitivity to both sides. The decision to expand the pilot to
further areas will be made based on a consensus between the
parties and subject to agreed-upon performance measures.
Based on the criteria for expanding the pilot area to other
areas, this is the proposal for expansion of the pilot area in
the
northern West Bank
area (see maps on page 11):
Area
Size in square
kilometers
Palestinian
population
Jenin area
812 square
kilometers
389,000
Palestinians
Tukkarm area 31 square
kilometers
81,000 Palestinians
Tubas area
171 square
kilometers
6,473 Palestinians
Nablus area
57.8 square
kilometers
170,123
Palestinians
Qalqilyah area 126 square
kilometers
83,211 Palestinians
Total
1,197 square
kilometers
729,719
Palestinians
This is the proposal for expansion of the pilot area in the
southern West Bank
area:
Area
Size in square
kilometers
Palestinian
population
Hebron H1 area
21 square
kilometers
160,470
Palestinians
Yatta –Samoa area 60 square
kilometers
88,552
Palestinians
Dura –Dahariya
area
241 square
kilometers
118,310
Palestinians
Halhul – Tarqumiya
area
121 square
kilometers
90,191
Palestinians
Beni Naim – Sa’ir
area
300 square
kilometers
68,693
Palestinians
Total
743 square
kilometers
526,126
Palestinians
Implementation stages of the security plan
The various implementation stages of the pilot plan will be
based mainly on the
Palestinians’ ability
to perform their
required tasks, as well as on their ability to control the region.
The USSC will evaluate the performance of the Palestinian
National Security Forces (NSF), the Palestinian Police Force
and Palestinian Intelligence, and determine whether they meet
the targets as defined in the security plan. This evaluation
will facilitate the decision on whether or not to expand the
pilot to other regions. Based on the assessment of the USSC,
the IDF may decide to gradually cut back its activities in the
pilot area. The gradual process described here takes into
account
the degree of IDF visibility and the degree of
urgency that demands military action
.
Depending on implementation of the proposed plan, as the
PA’s security capabilities are enhanced, IDF activity will be
based less on unilateral action and more on coordination and
cooperation, which will contribute to strengthening Palestinians
capacity. Parallel to this process, freedom of movement of the
NSF and Palestinian police will be increased. The chart below
illustrates the interaction between developing Palestinian
capabilities and Israel’s security activities.
Increased intelligence
cooperation
Increased freedom of
movement for Palestinian
Reduction in volume of
Israel’s military activity
Increased security
coordination
Increased Palestinian
capabilities
