A Palestinian Authority "military" court in Bethlehem on Wednesday sentenced a Palestinian security agent to death by a firing squad after finding him guilty of "collaboration" with Israel.

The agent, whose identity was not revealed, previously served as a member of the PA's General Intelligence Force in the West Bank before joining the Palestinian Naval Force.

This was the sixth verdict of its kind in the past year. PA "military" courts in Jenin and Hebron had also imposed the death penalty on Palestinian civilians and security officers convicted of assisting Israel in its war against Palestinian gunmen and fugitives in the West Bank.

Ironically, the death sentences come at a time when the PA security forces are increasing their security coordination with Israel in the West Bank and are actively involved in a massive crackdown on Hamas supporters.

The death sentences must be approved by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who has thus far refrained from endorsing the verdicts...