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Palestinian Authority security services have been destroying secret documents, fearing possible
Israeli raids on their offices as the Jewish State weighs applying its sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria, PA security sources said.

"We have been ordered to destroy confidential documents in our possession and we have obeyed this order," a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying that the instructions came from "high up."

During the Second Intifada, which erupted in the early 2000s and included waves of suicide bombings, Israeli security forces repeatedly stormed offices of the PA security services and removed confidential documents.

Several PA security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the services are concerned that this could happen again if Israel moves ahead with applying sovereignty.

Announced at the end of January in Washington, US President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan envisions the application of sovereignty by Israel of its settlements and of the Jordan Valley in Judea and Samaria.

One PA security source, who did not describe the nature of the documents, said the security services began destroying them a month ago after PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he was ending security coordination with Israel.

Two other security sources said some documents were destroyed after they were scanned and transferred to USB drives, which were then placed in "secret places".

According to the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority controls all Palestinian Arab cities in Judea and Samaria, but the Israeli military can enter them to make arrests, in coordination with local authorities.

But in mid-May, Abbas declared that he no longer felt bound by the treaties, saying that Israel's sovereignty plans showed that it was no longer honoring the agreements.

Analysts said the end of security cooperation could inflame unrest in the
PA.

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh recently warned of a "hot summer" if Israel goes ahead with applying sovereignty.