If the Palestinian Authority collapses it would be “catastrophic” for Israel,
Labor MK Isaac Herzog said in a meeting with PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on
Sunday night.
“That would mean the IDF would once again take
responsibility for cities in the West Bank,” Herzog, the first Israeli
politician to visit Ramallah after the January 22 election, said.
“It
should keep leaders awake at night,” he said.
According to Herzog, Fayyad
and PA President Mahmoud Abbas are Israel’s only partners in the peace process,
and Israel must make the maximum effort to negotiate with them and reach a
solution.
“Although it seems far away, it’s possible, and the next prime
minister is responsible for making this effort,” he said.
Herzog’s
comments came after Fayyad expressed concern that the PA is falling apart
because the Israeli government delayed transferring tax money and funds from
donor countries.
The PA prime minister said the situation, in which he
waits each month for the Israeli government to decide whether to transfer funds
or not, makes running a government impossible.
“We are in danger of
collapse if you in Israel do not get it together and understand that you cannot
leave us hanging month after month,” Fayyad said.
Herzog also gave Fayyad
an overview of Israeli politics following the election.