THE NEXT OCTOBER 7? THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY’S 70,000-MEMBER ARMED FORCE

Could the next October 7-style attack come from Judea and Samaria? In this episode of The State of Affairs, Avi Abraham Benlolo speaks with Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch about his warning that the Palestinian Authority has built a military-capable force of approximately 70,000 armed personnel.

More than 70,000 are reportedly stationed in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) —compared with only 12,000 permitted under the Oslo Accords. How did this force grow so dramatically? Why are its personnel allegedly being trained in sniping, artillery, armoured warfare, shoulder-fired missiles and parachuting? With Qalqilya only 14 kilometres from the Mediterranean, which Israeli cities would be threatened if these weapons were turned against Israel?

Did Western funding and Israeli weapons transfers help create this danger? Does PA security coordination protect Israelis—or primarily preparing for war against them? Did the PA’s salaries and employment benefits for released terrorists help senior Hamas leaders prepare for October 7?

Most importantly, what must Israel do now to prevent another October 7th catastrophe?

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