Latest news with #instability
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is the Palestinian Authority on the edge of economic collapse, Abbas succession?
Amid economic crisis and Abbas's aging leadership, the Palestinian Authority faces instability and potential succession battles. The future of the Palestinian Authority (PA) stands at a significantly uncertain point as it rests on the brink of economic collapse and a possible upcoming change of leadership. The PA's security establishment has been preparing for the potential succession battles that could arise should its president, Mahmoud Abbas, 89, pass away suddenly. Such a scenario could lead to violent riots, along with widespread chaos until a replacement is chosen, which is an event that the IDF is preparing for. Yet, despite Abbas's advanced age, reports from Palestinian sources indicate that his health remains stable, and he continues to consolidate key powers, overseeing the civil administration, the security apparatus, and the political mechanisms of the PA. One of the hallmarks of Abbas's rule has been his ability to maintain relative stability in the West Bank, even amid a severe economic crisis. Critics have underscored the operations conducted by the Palestinian security forces in the Jenin refugee camp. The operations that took place were conducted against armed groups with no organizational affiliation. A security source said that "although some in the IDF believed they weren't capable of going all the way, the operation in Jenin, from their perspective, was very successful, despite the deaths of five security personnel." The security source continued to highlight a recent incident in which civilians attacked Palestinian police officers in a line at a gas station in Dheisha, near Bethlehem. In response, Palestinian security forces launched an operation within the refugee camp, arresting three individuals involved in the assault and confronting senior members of the local group. 'The barrier of fear for the security forces has been broken when it comes to enforcing order,' said the source. 'In their view, this is a direct continuation of the strategic move in Jenin.' This signals that the Palestinian security forces are now prepared to use force, even against Palestinian civilians, to maintain control and prevent anarchy. Notably, the IDF has regularly coordinated with the Palestinian security forces, particularly during incidents of friction between Israelis and Palestinians. The cooperation between the two sides is also evident when Israelis enter areas under Palestinian security control. Another indication of the PA's instability is its handling of the ongoing financial crisis it is facing. For several months, full salaries have not been paid to 45,000 civil servants due to the non-transfer of clearance funds from Israel. Yet, despite this financial strain, Ramallah's clubs, restaurants, and bars have continued to operate daily. In the security establishment, preparations have been underway for the potential leadership struggle following Abbas's departure. The PA has been significantly weakened since the start ofthe Israel-Hamas war, and, according to estimates in the security establishment, it is not equipped to take responsibility for the Gaza Strip when the war ultimately ends. However, the PA is still functioning, striving to prove its value to Israel as an asset, not a burden. To address the economic challenges, there has been an Israeli security effort to promote industrial zones in the West Bank, foster agricultural entrepreneurship, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that restrict the movement of Palestinian workers into Israel. At the same time, the PA has continued its nightly operations of arrests, investigations, and efforts to thwart terror infrastructures throughout the West Bank. During the peak of the war in Gaza, universities were closed for fear of organizing and riots, forcing the transition of classes to Zoom. Currently, security officials have noted that the PA is not yet ready for new, young leadership, as it continues to actively suppress attempts to bring fresh faces into the central leadership.
Al Arabiya
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Erdogan says won't let terror ‘drag Syria back to instability'
Turkey will not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday after a suicide attack killed 22 at a Damascus church. 'We will never allow our neighbor and brother Syria... be dragged into a new environment of instability through proxy terrorist organizations,' he said, vowing to support the new government's fight against such groups. He did not explain what he meant by 'proxy' groups but vowed that Turkey would 'continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism.' The Damascus government blamed Sunday night's shooting and suicide attack -- the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since the fall of strongman Bashar al-Assad six months ago -- on ISIS. It cast the attack as a bid to 'undermine national coexistence and to destabilize the country,' which only began emerging from the post-civil war chaos after al-Assad's ouster six months ago. Turkey was a key backer of the anti-government forces who ousted al-Assad under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, now the interim president, and has repeatedly offered its operational and military to fight ISIS and other militant threats.
Arab News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Erdogan says won't let terror ‘drag Syria back to instability'
ISTANBUL: Turkiye will not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday after a suicide attack killed 22 at a Damascus church.'We will never allow our neighbor and brother Syria... be dragged into a new environment of instability through proxy terrorist organizations,' he said, vowing to support the new government's fight against such groups.
Free Malaysia Today
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Russia says Middle East is plunging into ‘abyss'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow favoured an end to hostilities and a move to diplomacy as soon as possible. (EPA Images pic) ST PETERSBURG : The Kremlin warned on Friday that the Middle East was plunging into 'an abyss of instability and war' and said Moscow was worried by events and still stood ready to mediate. Russia, which has warm ties with Iran and also maintains close links to Israel, has urged the US not to strike Iran and has called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis around Tehran's nuclear programme to be found. Asked on Friday if Russia had any red lines when it came to the situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that countries in the region were the ones who should have their own red lines. 'The region is plunging into an abyss of instability and war,' Peskov said. 'This war is fraught with (the risk of) geographic expansion and unpredictable consequences. This region is at our borders. It's potentially dangerous for us and we are concerned.' Although Russia does not border any country in the Middle East, its southern North Caucasus region borders a belt of former Soviet republics which in turn border Iran and Turkey. Peskov said that Moscow observed for now that Israel wanted to continue its military action against Iran but said Russia has lines of communication open with Israel, the U.S. and Iran. Peskov said it was hard to predict whether an offer by Putin to mediate in the crisis would be taken up or not but said that Moscow favoured an end to hostilities and a move to diplomacy as soon as possible. Russian nuclear energy chief Alexei Likhachev said the situation at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, where hundreds of Russian specialists work, was 'normal' and under control. The Israeli military said at one point on Thursday that it had struck the Russian-built Bushehr facility but later said the comment had been made by mistake. Likhachev, head of the state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, said on Thursday that any attack on the plant could cause a Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster. On Friday he told reporters in St Petersburg: 'We…very much hope that all our signals from yesterday reached the Israeli leadership.' Likhachev said Russia has just over 300 staff at Bushehr and a total presence of about 500 people, including family members.
RNZ News
22-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Fuel prices may rise due to Iran
Instability in the middle east often raises the question of what could happen to fuel prices. AA principal policy advisor Terry Collins spoke to Alexa Cook. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
