Azzam Al-Ahmed and Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh
Azzam Al-Ahmed and Hamas's Ismail HaniyehFlash 90

A senior member of Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction threatened that the PA would cut off all contact with the Israeli government, if Israel continues with its sanctions and does not transfer money to the PA.

The official, Azzam Al-Ahmed, is a member of the Fatah Central Committee, and has been tasked with overseeing the reconciliation with Hamas. That unity deal led Israel to implement sanctions and cut off all diplomatic ties, including the suspension of peace talks, last Thursday.

Speaking to the Saudi news source Al Madina, Ahmed warned that a total cessation of contact with Israel would lead to the collapse of the PA, and would transfer all responsibility for management of Judea and Samaria to Israel.

Ahmed's words follow Abbas's threats in April to disband the PA, which some warned would leave Israel vulnerable to litigation over the "settlements" in international courts, and change Israel's demographics. Abbas, meanwhile, was criticized for making an "empty suicide threat."

Ahmed further revealed that Egypt is being consulted regarding the Hamas reconciliation deal, given that Egypt backed the agreement and will supervise it being carried out, as a representative of the Arab league.

The Fatah official noted that the "popular struggle" would widen on "all Palestinian territories" due to the failure of the peace talks. He said Israeli "threats" to sanction the PA would not lead to any concession or submission.

The threats echo the remarks of another Fatah official, who in early April said the two-state solution is dead and called for the return to armed struggle.