Private gun ownership soars in West Bank

Duweik said, “Unfortunately, this text is not in force, and we see people at many social events carrying weapons, which endangers them and others.” He said, “It is difficult to limit the proliferation of arms in the West Bank because many carry arms clandestinely and illegally.”

He said, “It is dangerous for society to engage in a race for arms possession,” adding that it is the responsibility of the Palestinian security apparatus to maintain arms control and dry up the sources of illegal weapons, but noted that doing so requires “political will.”

There is no official data available on the source of these weapons, but activists like Duweik accuse Israel of facilitating their entry into the West Ban to spread chaos. He said, “After all, the risk affects Palestinian society not Israel.”

Al-Monitor tried to contact security officials in the West Bank for comment on arms proliferation, but did not receive a response.

However, an official in the Palestinian Military Judicial Commission told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the Palestinian security apparatus is failing to control arms proliferation in the West Bank. “Some members are even covering it up,” he said.

The official said, “We might reach a point where the arms are directed against us,” warning that failing to control these arms will result in chaos that could threaten public security in the West Bank.

Jihad Harb, a researcher on governance and political issues at the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, warned that arms proliferation harms the PA’s ability to govern the West Bank. He said, “Arms proliferation limits the PA’s ability to defend not only citizens, but also itself.”

He told Al-Monitor, “Under the tough economic circumstances, armed groups might surface to commit organized crime or to settle family problems or feuds. This will only worsen the chaos in the West Bank.”

He noted that there are concerns about chaos spreading after President Mahmoud Abbas leaves office due to a “lack of mechanisms to ensure democratic transition with the dissolution of the Palestinian Legislative Council.”

Abbas began his 15th year as PA president in January and some doubt he will complete his term as his health is unstable. He was repeatedly admitted to the hospital to receive treatment and undergo medical examinations this year.

Harb noted, “The transition process will become difficult constitutionally, and an armed fight between groups or ruling leaders in the West Bank might erupt.” He said that the best way to address the danger is to hold elections.

Harb did not deny “possible concerns” about Israel having a hand in the weapons proliferation in the West Bank because “Israel wants to stir internal chaos to distract Palestinians from the main conflict with it and to show that Palestinians are not worthy of a state.”

Khalil Assaf is the head of the Consortium of Independent Palestinians, a grassroots organization of businessmen and academics, and deputy head of the Public Freedoms Committee ensuing from the 2011 Cairo Agreement. He told Al-Monitor, “Weapons are openly carried without the existence of any national goals.” He also said that Israel is feeding weapons proliferation in the West Bank, concluding, “Why aren’t people carrying arms being pursued and why isn’t Palestinian society being cleaned of this phenomenon? Why this silence on this dirty issue?”