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Palestinian official warns of PNA collapse if Israeli offensive goes on

23 June 2014 18:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Palestinian senior official warned on Monday that the Israeli offensive in the West Bank may lead to a collapse of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), local media reported, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Reayd al-Malki, the PNA foreign affairs minister said the large- scale Israeli military offensive in the West Bank "aims at unsettling security and stability in the Palestinian territories," the official Voice of Palestine radio reported.

He further clarified that unsettling security "would certainly weaken the PNA and make it unable to carry out its duties, and consequently lead to its collapse."

Since the three Israeli teenagers had disappeared in June 12, Israel launched a large-scale offensive all over the West Bank, leaving five Palestinians killed and around 500 people detained, including Hamas leaders, lawmakers and former prisoners.

"Israel wanted to send a clear message to the Palestinian people that the West bank is under its grip," al-Malki said, adding that "the Israeli government uses this incident to collectively punish the Palestinians and their leadership."

Speaking about the Palestinian diplomatic moves to put an end to the growing offensive, the foreign affairs minister said " President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed to all PNA embassies all over the world to clarify the truth."

He added that several letters have been sent to the United Nations General Assembly, the president of the Security Council and the head of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Earlier on Monday, Palestinian security sources said the Israeli army continued storming towns and cities and raiding houses and searching into its contents. At least 37 Palestinians were arrested and taken for questioning.