Israel reluctantly okays Palestinian police stations in West Bank
Friday, February 27, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
TEL AVIV — Israel's military has approved the establishment of Palestinian Authority police stations in the West Bank after pressure from U.S. security envoy Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton.
The Israel Army said it has approved a PA request to open 12 PA police stations in the West Bank. So far, the PA has built 19 stations with Western assistance as part of an effort to assume security responsibility for the area.
"Authorization has been given for the opening of 12 new Palestinian Police stations in addition to the 20 new Palestinian Police stations that have been authorized last year," a military statement said on Feb. 24.
The statement said the approval was part of an Israeli decision to ease restrictions on the PA and Palestinians in the West Bank. The measures, coordinated with the PA, included the opening of roads, removal of checkpoints and freedom of movement for Palestinian security officers.
"Following a strict security examination, an individual authorization was given to few senior personnel in the Palestinian security forces, allowing them to have armed security due to real life threat," the military said.
In another measure, Israel has distributed special passes to 190 PA officials and security officers, from the rank of battalion commander. In 2008, 200 PA officials held certificates to cross Israeli military checkpoints without undergoing a search.
Military sources said U.S. security envoy Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton has been pressing Israel to transfer security responsibility for several West Bank cities to the PA. They said the cities being discussed were Bethlehem, Hebron and Tulkarm, some of which contain PA troops trained in Jordan in 2008.
"The Israel Defense Forces will continue to operate according to the decisions made by the political echelon in accordance with security assessments so as to further ease life of the Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] while continuously fight terror and maintain the safety of citizens of the state of Israel," the military said.
Despite the easing of restrictions, Israeli troops continue to raid suspected insurgency strongholds in cities under formal PA security control. On Feb. 25, Israeli special forces entered Jenin and searched the homes of fugitives. At the same time, three masked Palestinians, carrying guns and pretending to be Israeli troops, raided a Jenin hospital and held people hostage as the robbers looked for cash.
"Those who take advantage of the presence of the occupation [Israel] to carry out their own actions will receive appropriate punishment," Jenin Gov. Qaddura Mussa said.