RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has sent his
top security officers to the Gaza Strip to restore control amid riots with
the opposition Hamas movement.
Arafat sent leading officers from several agencies to Gaza City to
assume command over the police and security forces. The officers are from
the police and the National Security Forces, the largest force in the PA,
and authorized to deal with internal security.
Palestinian sources said the transfer of the senior officers to the Gaza
Strip comes amid a failure by the PA and Hamas to end their current dispute.
The PA has demanded the surrender of Hamas agents responsible for the
assassination of PA riot police commander Col. Rajah Abu Lahye. At least 20
Hamas members are believed to have been involved in the assassination on
Monday.
The PA has killed five Hamas members in shootouts in wake of the
assassination. Officials have also demanded the surrender of Hamas agents
based in the Nusseirat refugee camp. The killing of Abu Lahye is believed to
have been sponsored by a brother of a Hamas agent killed by PA riot police
last year.
Over the weekend, Hamas and the PA failed to reach agreement to improve
their tense relationship. Palestinian sources said Hamas refused a PA demand
to condemn the assassination of Abu Lahye and facilitiate the surrender of
those suspected of killing him. Hamas was also said to have refused a PA and
Fatah demand to cooperate with a Palestinian legislative panel that is
investigating the clashes last week.
The officers sent to the Gaza Strip were said to have been involved in
the clash with Hamas in 1994 in which 14 Islamic militants were killed
outside a Gaza City mosque. The sources said a PA offensive against Hamas is
imminent.
The PA has declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip. Commanders
have cancelled all leave for police officers.
On Thursday, the PA recruited thousands of people to attend the funeral
of Abu Lahye. They chanted slogans in support of Arafat and against Hamas.
Over the weekend, an Israeli security guard foiled a Palestinian suicide
mission near the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. The guard spotted the bomb with a
metal detector, ran after an unidentified Palestinian and overpowered him.
Nobody was hurt.
