GAZA CITY — Palestinian insurgency groups have rejected a government
plan to store their weapons during legislative elections on Jan. 25.
Officials said the refusal by the insurgency groups to the Palestinian
Authority plan would put the elections
in the Gaza Strip at risk of being sabotaged at gunpoint. They said the PA would
be helpless to stop the ruling Fatah movement from raiding polling stations
and intimidating inspectors.
"We are expecting a very violent Election Day," an official said, according to a report by Middle East Newsline.
On Monday, Interior Minister Nasser Yusef detailed the PA plan. Yusef
said the PA had proposed that insurgency weapons would be stored at several
locations in the Gaza Strip. He said the PA and the groups would have access
to the weapons.
"But they rejected the proposal," Yusef said.
Palestinian sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad pledged not to use or
display their weapons during Election Day. But they refused to surrender
their weaponry — even for a short period.
"Without the weapons, the faction leaders would be open to assassination
attempts by rivals," the source said.
Yusef said PA forces would be deployed to stop violence during Election
Day. He said security agencies were given "clear instructions to confront
any attempt to use arms during the election period."
But other officials dismissed Yusef's assertion. They said PA security
forces, comprised largely of Fatah members, have refused to stop insurgency
groups, particularly Fatah factions.
