Ex-IDF Officer Warns of Tunnel Threat, Palestinian Authority's Terrorist Aims
A former operations officer for the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division has warned that Israel remains "captive to a conception" regarding the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the threat posed by tunnels and other infiltration methods in the West Bank. Yaron Buskila, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former CEO of the "Security-Minded" movement, stated that the recent discovery of a tunnel near Givat Ze'ev is not an isolated criminal incident but a potential precursor to terror attacks.
Buskila drew parallels to Gaza, where smuggling tunnels evolved into Hamas terror infrastructure. He believes similar tunnels, along with above-ground crossings, exist in the West Bank and could be exploited by terror groups like Hamas or the PA for infiltration and attacks. "The day Hamas or the PA decides they want to surprise Israel, to infiltrate and attack, they will use these tunnels as part of the possible platforms for infiltration purposes," he stated.
He expressed concern that the IDF is unprepared for a large-scale, combined attack in the West Bank, citing the vast area and the capabilities the PA has accumulated over the years, which he described as a "de facto army." Buskila asserted that the PA has an interest in fighting Israel, contrary to the prevailing Israeli assumption that the PA prioritizes its own economic and security interests. He cited Hamas's attack plans, which included post-conquest control of territories, as indicative of similar ambitions within the PA.
Buskila criticized the PA's "licensed terror organization" status, alleging it encourages and rewards terror through media and radio programs. He believes the PA's ultimate goal is to conquer Israel, even if only partially. He placed responsibility for the current situation on the political and security echelons, as well as Israeli society for not protesting the growing threat. He specifically credited only Minister Smotrich for taking effective action by thwarting the Fayyad plan through settlement expansion.
"We are not in an event. There is a conception here that assumes the PA is an organization whose purpose is only to manage life in Judea and Samaria, and that is not the case," Buskila concluded, urging public outcry and government action to change the reality.
