Despite Western and Arab assistance, the Palestinian
Authority has failed to bolster, reform or streamline its security services.
A report by the Washington Institute asserted that PA police and
security forces have failed to impose order over large parts of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. The report, authored by a reserve Israeli brigadier
general, warned that the PA failure could hamper the Israeli withdrawal from
the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The essential reform of the Palestinian security services is advancing
at much too slow a pace," author Michael Herzog said. "To date, the PA has
largely failed to implement the required consolidation of its numerous
security services into three branches with a clear chain of command, as
ordered by [PA Chairman Mahmoud] Abbas on April 14."
The report said the PA has failed to recruit 5,000 security personnel in
the Gaza Strip. The recruits were meant to ensure the PA takeover of the 21
Israeli communities slated for evacuation in August 2005.
Herzog said the PA has also failed to fulfill its pledge to dismiss
thousands of what he termed "unqualified" PA personnel. He said there are
58,000 officers in PA security agencies, which he termed an inflated force.
The report said the failure of PA security forces would not halt the
Israeli withdrawal operation. Still, Herzog said the international community
should press for a crash program to recruit and train several thousand
officers to ensure control over the Gaza Strip.
"Less than two months before Israel commences its pullout from the Gaza
Strip and parts of the northern West Bank, the security situation is
worsening, while the PA appears largely unprepared to assume effective
security control over these areas," the report said. "Without an urgent
pre-disengagement crash program to improve security, the opportunity
afforded by Yasser Arafat's departure from the scene and Israel's departure
from Gaza will be lost."
The report also cited the nearly daily gun battles between rival
elements of the ruling Fatah movement in Palestinian cities in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip. Herzog said Abbas has failed to impose his authority,
preferring to coopt rather than confront Palestinian insurgents,
particularly those from Hamas.
"Indeed, time is not on Abbas's side," the report said. "If the [Hamas]
militants translate their gains into convincing victories in the upcoming
parliamentary elections, his room to maneuver will be further diminished,
especially in terms of disarming them and providing security."
