WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has proposed financing the
merger of Palestinian security forces.
U.S. diplomats have told PA officials that the Bush administration would
propose a $70 million package that would ensure the merging of the PA's 12
security forces Ñ totaling more than 30,000 officers Ñ into one agency.
The U.S. aid would also finance procurement of security systems and
training.
"The offer is tentative and is based on a series of steps by the PA," a
U.S. diplomatic source said. "But there is a financial incentive that
ensures that we will contribute to Palestinian reform."
The administration has requested the merger of PA security forces, the
elimination of corruption and the imposition of accountability and
transparency and the collection of illegal weapons. State Department
officials were said to have discussed the issue during their meetings with
Mohammed Rashid, chief financial aide of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. Rashid
also met Israeli officials regarding the resumption of security and
diplomatic relations with Israel.
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved $50 million in
humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The aid would be provided to
unspecified projects.
[On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of House members presented legislation
that would impose sanctions on the PLO. The sanctions include a freeze on
PLO assets and preventing Arafat and his aides from entering the country.
The
president would also have to report to Congress every 90 days on whether the
PLO was engaged in terrorism.]
The source said President George Bush had planned to send CIA director
George Tenet to present a plan for the merging of the PA security agencies.
But the Tenet mission has been delayed amid a PA effort to reorganize after
the Israeli pullout from West Bank cities. Tenet is now expected to arrive
in Israel at the end of the month.
"Quick fixes imposed from outside are unlikely to succeed unless they
are accompanied by a fundamental change in the Palestinian leadership's
approach to terrorism, counterterrorism, and peacemaking, and also by
effective treatment of the deeply rooted social and institutional ailments
within the Palestinian Authority," the Washington Institute for Near East
Policy said in a report.
U.S. officials said they are concerned by the rising tension within the
PA that pits a reformist camp against Arafat and his aides. They said a key
issue is the opposition by the ruling Fatah militia against any attempt to
disarm the group.
Another issue is Palestinian opposition to PA Preventive Security
Apparatus chief Col. Jibril Rajoub. Rajoub runs what is regarded as the most
effective security agency in the PA and has obtained extensive support from
the CIA and other U.S. security bodies.
Next week, Arafat is scheduled to discuss the issue of reform with Saudi
Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Palestinian sources said Riyad has
raised its profile and is pressing the Islamic opposition to end suicide
bombings in Israel. The sources said the Saudis are arranging a PA-Hamas
meeting that could take place over the next 10 days in Cairo.
