World Tribune — Palestinian Authority cracks down on Hamas clerics in West Bank

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has sought to replace Hamas loyalists who serve as Islamic clerics in the West Bank.

Officials said the PA has increased monitoring of hundreds of mosques in the West Bank for efforts to spark unrest against the regime headed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. They said Hamas-aligned clerics have been speaking against the PA and the ruling Fatah movement in an effort to encourage recruitment to the Islamic opposition.

"We are carefully watching the mosques and the activities in them," an official said. "Most of the major PA security agencies are involved in this effort."

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[On Sunday, Hamas's Executive Force found a bomb outside the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City, Middle East Newsline reported. The bomb, defused by EF, was said to have contained 15 kilograms of explosives.]

Officials said the mosque crackdown has been led by the Preventive Security Apparatus as well as the General Intelligence. They said both agencies have been training their officers to penetrate West Bank mosques and track Hamas clerics.

Hamas was said to have used mosques for the storage of weapons. On Sept. 12, General Intelligence raided the Natur mosque in Nablus and found five machine guns, pistols, ammunition, military uniforms and anti-PA leaflets. No arrests were reported.

Hamas clerics suspected of speaking against the Abbas government have been threatened with dismissal, officials said. The West Bank contains 1,547 mosques.

"Any preacher found to be promoting political, personal or partisan ideas will be dismissed or replaced," PA Islamic Affairs Minister Jamal Bawatneh said.

Bawatneh said the PA has drafted a budget for the hiring of 800 Islamic clerics who would oppose Hamas. He said the PA has launched a drive to recruit clerics and other mosque staffers.

Officials said the PA has determined that Hamas controls more than 70 percent of mosques in the West Bank. They said Hamas has used mosques to incite Palestinians against Abbas and recruit young congregants.

Hamas representatives have warned against a PA crackdown on West Bank mosques. They asserted that Fatah has also used mosques for political activities.

"Most of these imams [Islamic preachers] have the requisite diplomas and any decision to sack them will be political," Palestinian Legislative Council member Hatem Qafisheh, a Hamas member, said.