Iran’s Escalation in the West Bank

Iran is increasingly arming Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in the West Bank via Jordan, as part of its larger yearslong effort to build up proxy groups on multiple fronts against Israel. At low direct cost to Iran, these activities foment instability and violence on the doorstep of Jerusalem and other major Israeli population centers, threaten stability in neighboring Jordan, and place at risk millions of Palestinian and Israeli civilians in the West Bank itself. The United States should enhance security cooperation with Jordan to thwart these smuggling networks, and U.S. officials should publicly emphasize the threat Iran’s malign activity in the West Bank represents to Israelis and Palestinians alike.