RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has absorbed hundreds of Fatah
insurgents into the security forces in a scheme it says meets with U.S. approval.
PA officials said most of the nearly 700 members of Fatah's Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades have been recruited for the 13 security agencies.
Officials said the PA has received funding from Western donors to
establish five training camps, Middle East Newsline reported.
Under the plan, Al Aqsa fighters would agree to surrender their weapons
to the PA. Officials said they would then receive PA-issued firearms as well
as a salary of at least $2,200 shekels, or $500, per month.
Officials said the PA absorption of Fatah insurgents was meant to end
their armed campaign against PA security commanders and other
representatives. During 2005, insurgents frequently attacked officials and
installations as part of Fatah's demand for jobs and funding from the PA.
Under the plan, Al Aqsa would help collect illegal weapons in
Palestinian cities. Qurei said
the effort would begin in the West Bank, particularly in Ramallah and
Nablus.
[Over the weekend, Israel reported a string of attacks against civilians
and soldiers in the West Bank. In most of the attacks, Al Aqsa was said to
have been involved.]
The officials said many of the Al Aqsa fighters would first undergo a three-week training
course before assuming their duties. They said training would take place in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip by December 2005.
"We have been planning this for a long time," an official said. "We have
permission from both the Americans and Israel."
"We have agreed today to establish five new camps for training and
hosting stragglers," PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, referring to Al Aqsa
fighters, said on Sunday.
[On Monday, Israeli troops killed a leading Islamic Jihad commander in
the West Bank city of Tulkarm. The commander was identified as Lua A-Saidi a
Hizbullah-financed insurgent and responsible for the killing of 12
Israelis.]
Officials acknowledged that not all Al Aqsa fighters have agreed to join
the PA security forces. They said more than 100 of them receive financing
from Iran and Hizbullah to maintain attacks against Israel.