May all his problems be internal
The New York Times
April 2, 2005
Abbas Forces Out West Bank Security Chief
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:03 a.m. ET
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas forced out his top West Bank security chief Saturday in what could be the first step toward a long-awaited overhaul of the Palestinian security forces.
A day earlier, Abbas fired the local security chief in Ramallah, Younis Al-Aas. Both moves followed an attack Wednesday on the Palestinian government compound in Ramallah by gunmen loyal to the West Bank security chief, Ismail Jaber.
Jaber, in charge of the region's security since the Palestinian Authority was created in 1994, was close to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He submitted his resignation Friday, and Abbas accepted it Saturday during a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Interior Minister Nasser Yousef.
Further meetings about changes in the security forces are expected, officials said.
The international community has been waiting for Abbas to act more forcefully on his pledge to reform and streamline the unwieldy and undisciplined Palestinian security forces. In another move Saturday to deliver on this promise, he issued a statement through the Palestinian news agency, WAFA, that he has decided to enforce a month-old law requiring security personnel to retire at age 60.
That would ``allow Abbas to get rid of many security chiefs and replace them with others better equipped for the job,'' a security official said on condition of anonymity.
Most of the long-time security chiefs are at least 60.
Officials also said several top government employees have been targeted in a corruption probe and could be charged soon.
The Ramallah attacks were a defiant response to Abbas' requests that the gunmen either disarm or join the security forces.
Abbas initially decided not to confront them after the rampage, acting on Jaber's advice that a crackdown would lead to more violence, officials said. That decision prompted criticism from some of his advisers and security chiefs, and he reconsidered, the official said.
The incident reflects Abbas' biggest dilemma since being elected Palestinian Authority president in January. If he permits Palestinian militants to continue to act with impunity, he will increasingly be perceived as ineffective by Palestinians and risks alienating the international community, which has been pushing for a crackdown and sweeping security reform. Many of the militants have also engaged in extortion, kidnappings and other crimes -- in addition to attacks on Israel in the past four years.
However, a confrontation could easily spin out of control at a time when Abbas is not fully in control.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press |
