The IDF resumed this week its military operation to fight terrorism in Judea and Samaria after a short break in the wake of US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The move reignited Palestinian criticism over the activities, with Ramallah having threatened to take serious measures, including ending agreements with Israel and putting the security coordination with it on hold.
Nevertheless, senior Palestinian official Mahmoud al-Habbash asserts that "these are not threats, but decisions made to protect the Palestinian national interest."
In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, Habbash, who advises PA President Mahmoud Abbas on religious and Islamic affairs, warned against implementing such measures as matters in the region continue to escalate, or when there is no progress in the political process.
But, if "what is happening in Jenin and Nablus, if this situation continues and we see an escalation on the ground, you may wake up one morning and realize that all the decisions have been made. We will not remain prisoners of the mood of Israel," he said. "When and how will it happen? Everything according to the preparations we made," he said. "If Israel continues to turn its back on the political process and behave as a country above the law, we will know what to do. And if we find that the Palestinian interest forces us to implement one or all of the decisions, we will implement them. It can be all at once or gradually. Israel must understand that we cannot continue to accept the occupation indefinitely."
Habbash also addressed the ongoing conflict over the Temple Mount, saying that the Al Aqsa compound is under full control of the Islamic waqf, and as such, only Muslims could hold ownership over it.
"The entire area of Al-Aqsa is owned by Muslims only, and non-Muslims have no right to own even an inch of it. Prayer, management and ownership are the exclusive right of Muslims," he said, adding that the Western Wall plaza was also "part of the holy Islamic waqf" and the Al Aqsa compound, and as such, cannot belong to the Jews.
"There is no Muslim in the world who would accept Jewish ownership or sovereignty over the Kotel," he said.
Habbash also expressed criticism over the continued dispute about the reopening of the US consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem.
"The opening of the consulate is still on the agenda. President Biden and his secretary of state [Antony Blinken] stressed this, we have an open dialogue. I cannot say that the visit achieved everything we wanted, but at least it established some of the foundations on which the political process rests – the two-state solution and the need to end the occupation. The Palestinian state already exists and is only waiting to be declared from a legal point of view."
When speaking about the upcoming political election in Israel, Habbash said, "We don't care who will be in power in Israel. It is important what plans and positions they will bring. We will work with any person who becomes prime minister and is ready to deal with the Palestinian problem positively."
When asked whether the PA supported the Arab factions joining the coalition, he asserted, "The Palestinians in Israel know what their needs are. We do not interfere or give them instructions, but we wish them to have influential political power. They are our brothers, and they are part of the Palestinian people."
As for a potential meeting between Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Abbas, he said the Palestinian leader "always wants meetings with the leadership in Israel to advance the peace process, and he does not put obstacles in front of any Israeli leader. But a meeting just for the sake of a meeting, for a photo – it has no value."
When asked about the conflict between the PA and Hamas, Habbash said, "There are differences between us and Hamas, which we will discuss at home and not in the Israeli media."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
