Investigation Reveals Palestinian Authority Built 70,000-Strong Army in West Bank Contrary to Oslo Accords
A new three-part investigative series titled "The 7.10 Film, West Bank Version," aired on Channel 14, exposes a significant security threat emerging from the West Bank. The report reveals that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has systematically violated the Oslo Accords by expanding its armed forces far beyond the agreed limits. While the Oslo agreements capped the PA's security forces at approximately 12,000 police officers tasked solely with maintaining public order, the investigation uncovers the existence of a 70,000-strong military force.
This force is not only large in number but also highly trained, including elite commando units skilled in parachuting and diving, as well as extensive training in urban and open-area warfare. Classified documents and disturbing footage presented in the series demonstrate how this military buildup occurred unnoticed by Israeli security agencies, effectively transforming the PA's commitment to a limited police force into a facade for a well-armed and dangerous army.
The investigation raises critical concerns about Israel's preparedness for a potential large-scale incursion by PA forces, especially given the geographical proximity of these forces to major Israeli population centers. The report draws parallels to the surprise attacks of October 7 in southern Israel, warning that a similar or even larger-scale event could take place in the West Bank. The series underscores the urgent need to reassess Israel's security assumptions regarding the PA and the West Bank region.
