The Israeli Shin Bet security agency warned in closed meetings with political leaders about the risks of opening a new front in the West Bank.

It explained that the Palestinian Authority is showing clear signs of disintegration due to difficult living conditions, rising unemployment rates, and delays in paying security personnel salaries.

Shin Bet pointed out that these factors pose a significant danger that could lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, creating chaos and instability in the West Bank.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, senior officials in the Shin Bet warned the political leadership in recent meetings that there are signs of the Palestinian Authority’s disintegration, increasing the risk of an outbreak in the West Bank.

The report noted that security officials expressed concern that the Palestinian Authority is under severe economic pressure, stating, “The unemployment rate is rising, security personnel receive meager or no salaries, and essential jobs are eroding. These factors could lead to chaos and an outbreak of violence.”

The Shin Bet officials said in internal discussions that steps must be taken to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, including returning tax revenues that the cabinet decided to withhold from the Palestinian Authority.

The channel noted that this step has strong international support, but far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich still strongly opposes it.