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Israeli Defense Minister warns of comprehensive military offensive if PA forces attack settlers or IDF

Defense Minister Katz stated at a cabinet meeting that the IDF is preparing for a scenario in which Palestinian Authority security forces and Fatah-affiliated Tanzim organizations attack Israeli settlers and IDF forces in Judea and Samaria and communities along the seam line. In such a case, Katz said war would be declared against the PA, and the IDF would launch a comprehensive offensive based on a plan formulated and approved by Prime Minister Netanyahu and himself. The campaign would be "short and intense" and include ground and air forces, targeted killings and expulsion of senior officials, destruction of weapons and military equipment, large-scale evacuation of residents, and destruction of terrorist infrastructure in cities and refugee camps—following the Gaza and Lebanon model. Katz emphasized there would not be a years-long intifada but rather "a short and intense war with a clear-cut victory."