Arafat rushes home to control internecine fighting
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, July 26, 2001
GAZA Ñ Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has cut short
his trip to the Gulf to end the internecine fighting between his supporters.
Arafat left Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and returned to Gaza, where he met with
his aides. Later, Arafat convened the heads of security agencies as well as
the ruling Fatah movement and the Islamic opposition.
Palestinian sources said Arafat was alarmed by reports of fighting
between Fatah gunmen and PA security forces. So far, both sides have
sustained injuries in the clashes and several Palestinian uprising leaders
have been arrested.
On early Tuesday, Fatah and Islamic militants fired shots and hurled
rocks toward the home of Arafat's nephew, PA military intelligence chief
Mussa Arafat. Earlier, the security official had ordered the arrest of
organizers of a protest in Gaza City that turned violent. The demonstrators
were encouraged by calls from mosques.
The sources said Fatah dissidents are demanding more authority in
continuing the war against Israel. They accused Arafat of bowing to pressure
to stop Palestinian attacks within Israel and demanded that Palestinians
continue to shell Israeli positions.
"As long as there is [Israeli] occupation, we can never stop the
struggle," Hamas spokesman Ismail Abu Haniya said.
For their part, PA sources accused Hamas of flexing their muscles and
trying to form a separate authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They
said they had warned Arafat of Hamas's rising influence during the war with
Israel.
Arafat is expected to halt the demonstrations and commit the Islamic
opposition to a plan of national unity. This could include a Cabinet
reshuffle and the introduction of ministers from Hamas.
"The situation is under control," PA Cabinet secretary Ahmed Abdul
Rahman told PA radio on Wednesday. "What happened was something simple that
will not occur."
On Wednesday, Israeli and PA security officers will meet in a session
sponsored by the United States. The officers will present a list of more
than 50 Jewish settlers accused of participating in attacks against
Palestinians. The Palestinian side will demand the arrest of the Israelis.
"The Palestinian Authority will give a list of more than 50 Israeli
terrorists," PA General Intelligence chief Col. Tawfik Tirawi said. "The
authority has proof of their participation in barbarous crimes against
Palestinians. If they don't take measures to stop them, they will be held
responsible."
Tirawi is said to have stopped attacks on Israel while his rival, PA
Preventive Security Apparatus chief Col. Jibril Rajoub, is said to be
smuggling weapons from Jordan for PA forces.
On Wednesday, Israeli missiles slammed into a car of a Hamas member and
killed him west of the West Bank city of Nablus. The Palestinian was said to
have been linked to suicide bombings within Israel.
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