Inter-Palestinian Security Dispute Shows on Gaza Streets

2006-05-18

Abbas Deploys Regular Forces, Siyam Interior Ministry's 'New' Force

Palestine Media Center - PMC [Official PA website]

www.palestine-pmc.com/ details.asp?cat=1&id=1140

Days ahead of a Palestinian national dialogue conference on May 25, President Mahmoud Abbas ordered Palestinian police and national security forces deployed across Gaza Strip on Wednesday to restore order and prevent whoever undertakes their mandate from doing so, after the Ministry of Interior deployed its own "new" security force in the Strip.

The stand-off between Palestinian presidency, led by Fatah, and the government, led by Hamas, over security mandates and moving this dispute from behind closed doors and institutional forums onto the streets is raising public fears of infighting and diverting Palestinians' attention away from Israel's unilateral plans to fix its borders by grabbing more of the West Bank land.

"While everyone is busy with the petty internal issues, the future of the territories is being sealed unilaterally by Israel in the West Bank," Mouin Rabbani, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, was quoted as saying.

National dialogue remains the only way out of the dispute.

The Ramallah-based Al-Ayyam daily reported on Thursday that the Palestinian national dialogue conference was postponed from May 24 to May 25.

Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Abed Rabbo, told Al-Ayyam that "preparations are still confined" to decide which of the Palestinian parties as well as which independents to invite. "Until now, we did not discuss political issues," he said.

Public fears of Palestinian infighting was voiced on Wednesday by the Higher Follow-up Committee, which represents 13 national and Islamic parties and anti-Israeli occupation organizations.

The Committee called on the Palestinian government and its Ministry of Interior as well as on the official national security forces to quickly withdraw their forces from the streets to put an end to the public tensions.

The Islamic resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad did not attend the Committee's meeting in the headquarters of the PLO Executive Committee in Gaza.

The Higher Follow-up Committee also called for popular demonstrations across the Gaza Strip to protest the "militarization" of the security disputes.

Abbas Orders Deployment of 'Regular' Forces

Abbas on Wednesday ordered Palestinian police and national security forces deployed throughout Gaza Strip to restore order and prevent whoever undertakes their mandate from doing so, after the Ministry of Interior deployed its own security force in the Strip.

"President Abbas has ordered the members of all the security forces to deploy as rapidly as possible in Palestinian towns to restore order and ensure security," a presidential official source said, asking not to be identified.

"Mr Abbas also told security force personnel to refuse any orders delivered by any authority but his own," he added.

Separtaely a senior Palestinian security official told Reuters the regular deployment, to be fully implemented by Thursday, would be the largest since police fanned out ahead of Israel's redeployment of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip last year.

"Police forces have already begun deployment and in the coming hours national security forces will follow. We expect the deployment to be completed by morning," the official told Reuters.

Police in the regular forces received instructions over their radios to use force against anyone who interfered in their activities. A senior police officer said the order was given with the formation of the new unit in mind, The Guardian reported Wednesday.

Siyam Declares 'Executive Force' Operational

The Palestinian interior minister, Saeed Siyam, declared a new Hamas-dominated police force operational on Wednesday.

"In my capacity as interior minister responsible for internal security, I declare the executive force operational," Siyam said, citing a "state of chaos and anarchy and increasing assaults on our people."

"In line with my authority, I announce the beginning of the work of the executive unit that was formed recently to protect the security of the citizens and their property," he told a news conference in Gaza.

Siyam said attacks by "armed gangs" were part of "a plot to de-stabilize the Palestinian territories and match the pressure being applied on the government." Existing security services, he said, had been unwilling or unable to implement his orders.

"The current weakness of the security forces is clear to everyone. There is stealing, kidnapping and killing, so there is a real need for this force," Siyam told reporters.

Siyam announced on April 21 he was creating a special force drawn from armed factions to supplement the work of police and security officers in clamping down on chaos.

Abbas, who has overall responsibility for security, initially issued a presidential decree dismissing the move as "unconstitutional," but subsequently indicated he would not take issue with the force if it acted as an auxiliary to the existing security apparatus.

Siyam insisted there was no disagreement over the force, which he said Wednesday "has been formed in agreement with the office of the president."

However Abbas told AFP in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday: "We agreed to allow a certain number of elements of different movements to join the security services, and the interior minister can therefore take in a reasonable number, as long as it is budgeted by the finance ministry."

The force would consist of 3,000 members drawn from all the Palestinian factions and would answer directly to his ministry, he added.

Gunmen in black T-shirts and green vests took up positions along the main streets and at busy intersections, near banks and outside ministry buildings and parliament in Gaza city Wednesday.

The new "bearded" force had no identifying logo on its uniform of black shirts, black caps and green military pants.

Fatah Urges Hamas to Retract

Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a top presidential aide, urged Hamas to reverse the decision. "This force doesn't serve security. On the contrary, it creates problems," he said.

The leader of the Fatah faction in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Azzam al-Ahmad, said that President Abbas was the "commander of all security forces." Therefore, he told the Voice of Palestine radio, "Mr. Siyam can't form a new force without Abbas's approval."

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman and a former spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, called on Siyam to "retract a hasty decision that may lead our people to catastrophe."

"This will be a force above the law and this is something we cannot accept," Abu Khussa told AFP.

"It is a dangerous escalation towards division led by the interior minister in announcing the work of this force which is part of the problem and not the solution," he said, adding: "This force is only made up of men from the Qassam Brigades. This is a partisan force. Members of Fatah will not take part."

In Gaza City, Abdel Aziz Shaheen, a Fatah politician and former cabinet minister, held a solitary demonstration against the force outside the Palestinian PLC (parliament) building.

"I don't want to be ruled and governed by militias," he said. "Maybe I am alone today, but I am sure that in the future we are going to see thousands of people protesting against these militants and against these masked people."

The Egyptian consul in the Gaza Strip hosted at his home a five-hour meeting between Hamas and Fatah officials, reportedly attended also by Egyptian defense officials, Wednesday night, in an effort to end the violent stand-off between the two groups that has led to a spate of deaths on both sides, claiming two lives on Wednesday.

Abbas to Hamas: Adapt or You Cannot Survive

President Abbas on Wednesday called on Hamas to change otherwise it "can't survive," and said the Palestinian people may lose patience with Hamas if it does not eventually adapt to international standards.

"I don't think people will be satisfied, because they will be deprived of everything because of Hamas' policies," he said.

"They should adapt to international standards, they should be part of the international community. Without that I don't think they can survive, I don't think they can deliver," Abbas told The Associated Press, a day after addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

However, "Whether it is reasonable to expect a change or not we have to give them a chance. They've been in the office less than 1.5 months. They should take their chance," Abbas said.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis