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Armed insurgents hired to fight crime in West Bank
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, May 13, 2005
RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has begun to use former
insurgents in anti-crime operations in the West Bank.
PA officials said insurgents, including those sought by Israel, have
been deployed in operations against car thieves and weapons dealers in the
West Bank. They said the Interior Ministry and police have sought to exploit
the knowledge and skills of the former insurgents in anti-crime missions.
So far, more than 200 insurgents, virtually all of them from the ruling
Fatah movement, have been recruited into PA security forces, with most of
them joining anti-crime units. Officials said the insurgents have been
operating in Jericho and Tulkarm, Middle East Newsline reported.
In Tulkarm, PA security commanders employed 150 former insurgents in an
offensive against criminal gangs. The security forces fought off an attempt
by criminals to storm a Tulkarm police station on May 9.
Under the arrangement, the insurgents have been allowed to bring their
weapons in their new jobs for the PA security forces. Officials said,
however, the Fatah operatives have been warned not to use their weapons in
attacks against Israel.
The former insurgents were also meant to be used in operations in
Tulkarm to disarm Palestinians wanted by Israel. But despite PA assurances,
Israeli military sources, the fugitives have not been forced to surrender
their weapons. Instead, the sources said, the fugitives were recruited into
the Palestinian security forces.
Copyright © 2005 East West
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