RAMALLAH Ñ The Palestinian Authority is bracing to receive scores of
security advisers from Egypt and Jordan.
PA officials said the first advisers will arrive this week in the West
Bank. They will be providing training to PA security forces in Jericho.
PA Interior Minister Abdul Razaq Yehya said Egypt, Jordan and the PA
have agreed to a security training plan that would include courses.
Yehye said cadets have already been registered for the courses.
Officials said the Egyptian and Jordanian course will last three weeks
and will comprise intensive training in counter-insurgency, weapons and
investigation. The two countries will monitor progress of the PA recruits
and submit a report for recommendations.
The course will be modified for several levels of training, the
officials said. They did not disclose how many PA cadets would undergo
training.
PA officials reported differences with the United States in proposals to
reform the Palestinian regime. They said the PA rejected a U.S. proposal to
amend the election law that would adopt proportional representation. The PA
also has rejected a U.S. proposal that the Palestinian legislature appoint a
prime minister.
Over the weekend, Palestinian sources reported a breakdown in security
talks with Israel. The breakdown was reported amid differences between the
PA and the Islamic opposition over a proposed ceasefire with Israel.
Israel has also agreed to suspend plans to withdraw troops from the Gaza
Strip and West Bank cities. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
was said to have responded to an appeal by senior Israeli military
commanders not to withdraw troops from these cities amid increased attacks
by Palestinian insurgents. Ben-Eliezer had drafted the plan for a staged
Israeli pullback in exchange for PA responsibility to end insurgency
attacks.
