The IDF is sending additional troops to the Jordan Valley in the West Bank ahead of Tuesday's unveiling by U.S. President Donald Trump of his long-awaited Mideast peace plan.
Both the military and security services began bracing for an outbreak of violence in the West Bank and along the border with Gaza though thus far, there is no specific intelligence information of any planned events.
However, in light of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call Monday for Palestinians to demonstrate and even clash with Israeli troops, security officials are inspecting potential conflict areas and are preparing for any eventuality should violence erupt.
The IDF and the Shin Bet security service are hoping to keep a low profile so as not to incite the Palestinian streetm, which is thus business as usual despite the leadership's combative rhetoric.
Palestinian sources confirmed to Ynet late Monday that Abbas instructed his security forces to allow protesters to clash with Israeli troops on Wednesday, the declared "Day of Rage," in response to the White House roll out of the peace plan.
"If we have elections, what do we tell our people about the Jordan Valley being annexed?" Abbas said.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN General Assembly in September 2019
(Photo: AFP)
The sources said that although the announcement of the peace plan is the excuse, the Palestinian leadership is more concerned with the possible Israeli annexation of land now that Jerusalem appears to have the backing of the United States to do so.
"The plan will come and go like other American plans," the sources said. "We know it and the countries around us know it too."
Annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank seem like a realistic possibility under the Trump administration now and would change the nature of relations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel the sources warn.
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Ynet on Tuesday that she fears the announcement of the plan will exert a price from both Israelis and Palestinians.
Ashrawi said the administration never bothered to consult the Palestinian leadership before deciding to release their plan.
"All they seem to care about is handing Palestine to the Israelis."
"I think there will never be peace deal that is based on international war crimes," Ashrawi said, "there can be no plan that regards Palestinians as second or third rate because that will just incite violence and instability, not only in Palestine but in the entire region," she added.
Ashrawi said her people are attempting to stop violence from breaking out but that under Israeli oppression there will ultimately be resistance.
"You cannot continue to see the Palestinian people as the source of violence," Ashrawi said. "From our perspective, the occupation deploys violent means and that begets more violence."
Regarding Wednesday's "Day of Rage," Ashrawi said people are free to express their opinions.
"If they are angry – they will express their anger. The PA remains in support of non-violent resistance," she said.