RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, under pressure from
Arab and Western countries, has reshuffled his security commanders.
Arafat dismissed PA police commander Brig. Gen. Ghazi Jabali and PA
security chief Col. Jibril Rajoub. Rajoub has been regarded as the most
pro-American security chief in the PA and was said to have been replaced by
Nablus military governor Col. Zuheir Manasra.
Jabali has been sought by Israeli authorities in connection with
insurgency attacks against Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers. Jabali was
replaced by his deputy, Salim Burdana, Middle East Newsline reported.
The PA police commander has also been accused by Islamic opposition
groups of ordering officers to use live fire against demonstrators as well
as being involved in widespread official corruption. Palestinian sources
said Jabali is being groomed to become the PLO's envoy to Libya.
Arafat's dismissal of Rajoub was quickly denied by other PA officials.
For his part, Rajoub said he would not leave his post while other officials
said Arafat recommended but did not order Rajoub's departure. The
recommendation was said to have been relayed by Interior Minister Abdul
Razik Yehya.
Another security chief dismissed by Arafat was Mahmoud Abu Marzouk,
commander of PA civil defense. Abu Marzouk was replaced by Brig. Gen. Omar
Ashur.
A senior PA security official, Ribhi Arafat, was provided expanded
powers. Arafat will now be Arafat's liasion to the security agencies in both
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The Arafat reshuffle was announced as the United States, European Union
and the United Nations discussed Palestinian reforms at a conference in
London. The United States wants the 12 security agencies in the PA to be
reduced to no more than three.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Cabinet, in a stormy meeting, decided to
gradually ease military restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank,
including allowing an additional 5,000 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to
work in Israel. The measures have been urged by the United States.
