PA collapse 'not the end of the world' for Israel

An Israeli official said Saturday evening on live television that if the Palestinian Authority collapses it would not be the "end of the world for Israel." Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, Yedioth Ahronoth columnist Shimon Sheffer, former Palestinian minister Sufian Zayda, and Dove Viziglas, who was former adviser to Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, were analyzing the possibility of the PA disbanding on the television show "Face the press." "The Palestinians have to know that they can’t scare us by threatening to disband the PA," Ayalon said. “The tax revenue which Israel transfers to the PA is meant to help them stand in the face of Hamas, and since Mahmoud Abbas allied with Khalid Mashaal, this money will not be delivered from now on. "If the PLO wants to quit, Israel will look for international or local forces to take charge of the PA, and if they can’t find them and the PA collapses, that will not be the end of the world for Israel,” the deputy foreign minster added. Sufian Zayda responded to the comments by stating that withholding PA tax revenues amounts to stealing Palestinian money. “If Israel continues to withhold that money, the PA will collapse in three months, and thus Israeli occupation will have to take charge of all ministries and be responsible for a people under occupation," the former PA minister said. "In this case, the one state for two people will be the only choice left,” he added. The Israeli deputy foreign minister replied by saying Zayda was "dreaming" as Israel will "never allow the concept of one state for two peoples." Yedioth Ahronoth columnist Simon Sheffer said that reoccupying the West Bank is what Netanyahu "really wants," and if the PA collapses Israel, under his leadership, will not hesitate to move in military forces. Israel has occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem since 1967, in violation of international law.