Chicago – February 21, 2026
The Palestinian Authority (PA) is facing its gravest crisis in decades as Israeli control over the occupied West Bank deepens and settler violence surges, particularly around villages such as al-Mughayyir near Ramallah.
Local officials say expanding settler outposts and frequent Israeli military incursions are effectively preventing Palestinians from accessing their land, amounting to what they describe as a quiet form of annexation.
The PA, created more than 30 years ago under the Oslo Accords, is now struggling to provide basic services amid a severe financial squeeze. Israel’s withholding of tax revenues and the loss of around 100,000 Palestinian work permits after the 7 October Hamas-led attacks have left the Authority claiming over 4 billion dollars in unpaid funds.
Most public sector workers, including teachers, doctors and police, receive only 60% of their salaries, and schools serving more than 600,000 pupils now operate just three days a week. Analysts warn that the PA’s weakening grip risks wider unrest as frustrated Palestinians look for more confrontational alternatives.
