BATTLE WITHIN FATAH OVER W. BANK CONTROL
RAMALLAH Ñ The Palestinian Authority and the ruling Fatah movement
appears to be split over security responsibility in the West Bank.
The battle appears to pit PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his
security chief, Mohammed Dahlan against PA Chairman Yasser Arafat and a new
array of loyalists among the security forces.
Palestinian sources said the conflict was prompted by the efforts of
Security Affairs Minister Dahlan to impose his authority on the West Bank.
The sources said Dahlan wants to ensure that Palestinian insurgents,
particularly those from Fatah, will observe the current ceasefire.
Dahlan's efforts have been opposed by the Fatah-dominated Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigade and PA security chiefs who operate in the West Bank. Al Aqsa
contains numerous members of the PA security forces who obtain additional
salaries by participating in attacks against Israelis.
The PA minister has sought to employ the Preventive Security Apparatus
to operate against Palestinian insurgents who violate the ceasefire. Dahlan
is said to be pressing them to agree to an end of all attacks.
The anti-Dahlan coalition includes Arafat, his national security
adviser, Hani Al Hassan and General Intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi. The
Arafat coalition has been bolstered by Col. Jibril Rajoub, the former head
of the Preventive Security Apparatus.
The sources said Dahlan has managed to impose his authority in some
Palestinian cities by providing cash to insurgents who agree to observe the
ceasefire. But the strongest resistance comes from Fatah members from Jenin
and Nablus, some of whom receive financial support from Hizbullah and Iran.
Last month, Arafat loyalists abducted and assaulted the governor of
Jenin, Khader Irsheid. Irsheid was later released on orders of Arafat and
submitted his resignation.
Arafat has appointed Ramadan Bata as the new Jenin governor. Bata is a
former assistant to the Jenin governor.
