Israel ‘will prevent’ Palestinian Authority control of West Bank: Ministers

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that the country would not allow the Palestinian Authority to control the occupied West Bank. He made the remarks during a tour of the territory with far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said Israel was “here to stay”. “Just as we are crushing Palestinian terror in the terror camps of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Al Shams, we will prevent any attempt by the PA to take control [of the West Bank] and harm Jewish settlements,” Mr Katz said in a video statement.