# Netanyahu Warns Palestinian Authority Forces Could Turn Guns on Israel, Rules Out Arab Army West of Jordan

*Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-10-13T16:07:08.027Z (3h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/20470.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is preparing for a scenario in which Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank open fire on Israel and declares there will be no Arab army west of the Jordan River.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set out hard lines on future security control in the West Bank, warning of possible confrontation with Palestinian Authority forces and rejecting any foreign Arab military presence between the Jordan River and Israel’s coastal plain.

“We are preparing for a scenario in which Palestinian Authority forces turn their guns against Israel in the West Bank,” Netanyahu said on 13 October, according to remarks shared in Hebrew‑language channels. In the same context he stated: “There will be no Arab army west of the Jordan River. Here, there will be the Israel Defense Forces.”

His comments come amid long‑running strain on security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). That coordination has faced pressure from clashes on the ground, ongoing settlement activity, and political stalemate. By raising the prospect of PA units firing on Israeli forces, Netanyahu is signaling how far he believes the relationship could deteriorate and is preparing domestic opinion for that possibility.

In practical terms, direct fighting between Israeli troops and PA security units would mean gun battles in Palestinian cities where those forces are based. The PA’s security services are embedded in urban areas across the West Bank. Israeli forces already conduct regular raids; a breakdown that leads to sustained clashes with PA units would significantly raise the level of violence.

Netanyahu’s categorical statement that there will be no Arab army west of the Jordan River also touches on regional diplomacy. From time to time, international discussions have floated ideas about Arab states contributing to security arrangements in the West Bank. His position rules out foreign Arab troops operating there as a standing security presence and asserts that only Israeli forces will fill that role.

Strategically, this preserves full Israeli military control over the area and narrows space for international proposals that involve outside guarantors. For Arab governments that have normalized relations with Israel or are considering closer ties, it is a clear indication that any future role in Palestinian security would be limited.

The warning about PA forces turning their guns on Israel also carries an internal message for Palestinians. The Authority faces criticism from many Palestinians over its cooperation with Israeli security structures. If elements within the PA decide to abandon that coordination, or if units splinter, some could opt for confrontation. Netanyahu’s remarks suggest that Israel is already thinking through such scenarios.

Developments to watch include any visible adjustments in Israeli military posture near PA security installations, public statements from PA leaders about the status of coordination, and responses from Arab states to Netanyahu’s rejection of an Arab military presence in the West Bank. Moves by the PA to scale back security ties or by regional actors to test Israel’s red lines would show how rigid this stance is in practice.