GAZA CITY — The Palestinian Authority has begun training about 300 cadets to
impose control over the 21 Israeli communities in Gaza that are to be
evacuated and handed over to the PA.
"You have to be ready," Interior Minister Nasser Yusef told the cadets
on July 9. "You are the defenders of law and order."
"It is true that four years of indiscipline and ineffectiveness in this
very importance and respected institution have passed," Yusef said. "We will
work energetically and seriously to make this institution more professional
and non-political. Your people are sorely in need of your good efforts and
loyalty."
Officials said the main purpose of the training was to instill
discipline and team work, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the PA security forces have been plagued
by absenteeism.
In June, U.S. Gen. William Ward, the White House envoy responsible for
reorganizing the PA forces, said two-thirds of PA officers don't show up for
work. Ward said these officers still receive salaries.
Officials said the first 45-day training course began in late July. They
said the cadets were being trained in two camps in the northern Gaza Strip.
[On Monday, an Israeli government delegation begins discussions with the
United States over a proposal to provide Israel with $2.2 billion in aid to
facilitate the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
Officials said the original Israeli request from the United States was $500
million.]
Officials said most of the cadets would not carry weapons in the first
stage. The new officers would patrol the area around the evacuated Israeli
communities and ensure that they are not infiltrated by unauthorized
Palestinian.
At this point, officials said, the cadets in training have been officers
in the PA who served in civilian police and other units. They said most of
the cadets have undergone almost no training or police operations since the
Palestinian war in 2000.
