RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has ordered
attacks against dissidents who are demanding that his powers be reduced as
part of governmental reform.
Palestinian sources said Arafat relayed warnings that those
participating in discussions regarding proposals for PA reform would be
regarded as traitors. They said the PA chairman has followed this with
directives to attack leading dissidents in the effort.
On Wednesday, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fired toward the
Ramallah-area home of the new Palestinian security chief Zuheir Manasra.
Palestinian sources said gunmen fired seven bullets toward Manasra's home.
Manasra, who was at home during the shooting, was not injured.
Palestinian sources said the attack on Manasra was part of the power
struggle within the PA amid the decline of Arafat.
In July, Arafat appointed Manasra to replace longtime Preventive
Security Apparatus chief Jibril Rajoub in a move that angered the
3,000-member force. Rajoub then turned into a leading opponent of Arafat.
Earlier, Palestinian gunmen believed loyal to Arafat opened fire
toward the home of Palestinian legislator and former minister Nabil Amr.
Nobody was injured and the gunmen were said to have fled in a car with
Israeli license plates.
Amr later acknowledged the attack. But he said he was not at home.
The PA has also launched a new crackdown on suspected collaborators with
Israel and acknowledged that many of those arrested were members of the
security forces. PA military intelligence chief Mussa Arafat said his agency
has arrested 18 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 11 of them
members of the security forces.
Arafat, nephew of the PA chairman, said several of those captured have
been accused of helping Israeli forces identify and locate leading
Palestinian insurgents. These included commanders of the Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade, Fatah and Hamas.
The PA intelligence chief said families of some of the detainees tried
to halt the arrests and halt the investigation. He did not elaborate, but
Palestinian sources said this could indicate that senior officers could have
been arrested.
The crackdown was launched as Israeli forces continue to maintain their
siege of Arafat and his aides in Ramallah. Palestinian sources said Arafat's
orders for massive rallies in support of the PA chairman have elicited a
weak response.
Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin called on Arafat to be prepared to die rather
than agree to Israeli demands. Israel said it intends to arrest at least 20
Palestinian fugitives, including senior security officers, who have sought
refuge at Arafat's headquarters.
"You must stand tall and not surrender to this enemy who wants to put an
end to the [Palestinian] struggle and the uprising," Yassin said. "Be
strong; do not bow your head; die honorably; do not die defeated and
humiliated. An end to the
struggle will mean defeat for the Palestinian people."
