To: sea_urchin who wrote (8732 ) 10/28/2004 12:13:41 PM From: GUSTAVE JAEGER Respond to of 20039 West-Bankization of Iraq or... Iraqization of the West Bank? You decide:Oct. 28, 2004 0:27 | Updated Oct. 28, 2004 14:38 After Arafat IDF may need to keep peace in territoriesBy MARGOT DUDKEVITCH The army may be forced to intervene in the Palestinian-controlled areas after the demise of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to prevent innocent Palestinians from being harmed in the ensuing chaos, Central Command battalion commander Lt.-Col. Y. told The Jerusalem Post in a briefing Wednesday. With the recent speculations regarding the Palestinian leader's failing health, the army has to be prepared for all situations, he said. "Arafat is still respected because of his past – he is a symbolic figure – but today he has no control over the area," he said. "When he is gone, I believe we will witness a settling of accounts and the army will be forced to become involved in order to protect the civilian population." Armed thugs rule the street and are involved in extortion, robbery, rape, and weapon trading in addition to terrorism, he said. "Many of the PA officials fear for their safety and are constantly accompanied by armed guards," he said. At the same time fugitives remain holed up in Arafat's Mukata compound in Ramallah, where they continue to plan terror attacks. "We are talking about fugitives with blood on their hands who are responsible for the murders of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Recognizing... that we will not enter the compound, the fugitives take advantage of the sensitive situation and the Mukata has become a hothouse," he said. While the Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Ramallah has suffered a heavy blow, there are constant attempts to launch attacks against Israelis, the commander said. He would not rule out the possibility that terror groups in the West Bank will manufacture Kassam rockets as well as mortars. "Today the knowledge is out there on the Internet, all you need to do is download the details. The ingredients are easy to obtain: simple substances – fertilizer and agricultural products – you cook them at home, dip cloths into them, dry them and scrape off the residue." [...]jpost.com Ramallah, the Israeli Fallujah? Arafat's Mukata, another Najaf?