RAMALLAH – Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas continues to
fire commanders regarded as unable to discipline their troops.
Abbas has fired at least eight security commanders in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip over the last two months. They have included regional chiefs in
such areas as Nablus and Ramallah as well as the security commanders of the
Gaza Strip.
"We will soon see real changes in the Palestinian security forces," PA
Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfik Abu Khousa said.
In the latest move, Abbas demanded and received the resignation of
the commander of PA police in the West Bank, Brig. Gen. Haj Ismail Jaber.
Jaber resigned amid his failure to respond to riots in Ramallah and Tulkarm
last week.
Jaber, who resigned on April 2, was blamed for the rampage through the
PA government compound as well as three restaurants in Ramallah. Jaber was
said to have also refused an order by Abbas to confront the rioters.
"The security apparatus did not perform its duty, so it was crucial to
take a stand," Abbas said.
Abbas was said to have appointed Col. Nidal Asuli to replace Jaber.
Asuli has been commander of the PA security forces in the northern West Bank
city of Nablus.
On April 1, Abbas fired Ramallah National Security Forces commander Col.
Yunis Al Aas. Al Aas was also said to have failed to respond to the Ramallah
riots, which took place two days earlier.
On Sunday, PA General Intelligence chief Col. Tawfik Tirawi withdrew his
resignation after an appeal by Abbas. Tirawi had resigned in protest over
what he termed a breakdown in discipline within PA security.
In an effort to launch security reform, Abbas pledged to implement the
military pension law, passed in March, and which required the retirement of
security officers at age 60. His aides said that under the law hundreds of
officers would be forced to leave PA security agencies.
