Based on the model used in other areas of the West Bank, it would appear that the PA troops are there to reinforce PA police, to protect Palestinian civilians against those elements who thrive on anarchy and restore law and order for that population so they can build better lives for themselves. The presence of the negotiated settlement inside Hebron and the several other settlements in the Hebron area will complicate their efforts along with IDF activities by the IDF which may undermine the ability of the PA forces to gain the trust of the majority of the Palestinian population.
I wouldn`t expect overnight miraculous results. Counterinsurgency is difficult work and focuses on making life normal for non-combatants. It takes lots of time and has lots of risks for the deployed forces. But it can have successes as have been seen inside Jenin and Nablus and Bethlehem and Ramallah. |
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