GAZA CITY — The Palestinian Authority has encouraged security
officers to turn their wrath on Israel.
Palestinian sources said Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Interior
Minister Said Siyyam have met disgruntled PA officers and urged them to join
the insurgency war against Israel. The meetings came amid threats against
the PA by police and security officers who did not receive their salaries
for March.
"Under Hamas, the Interior Ministry has told unpaid security officers
that the more attacks against Israel, the more money they would get from
Iran and other countries," a Palestinian source said.
The PA has about 70,000 police and security troops, Middle East Newsline reported. Hamas has also been
organizing a separate force estimated to comprise about 5,000 fighters.
On Monday, Hamas leaders concluded talks with Iran regarding its support
of the PA. So far, Iran and Qatar have separately pledged $50 million each
in an effort to compensate for the shortfall of funding that had been
provided by the European Union and the United States.
Qatar, with a major U.S. military presence, has been regarded as a
leading supporter of Hamas. The PA requires about $150 million per month to
provide services and pay its 140,000 employees.
"We'd seek a little clarity from the government of Qatar as to exactly
what they're intentions are, to whom they actually intend to give this money
and under what circumstances," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack said. "We will see to whom they have actually pledged and intend
to give that money."
On Monday, at least nine people were killed and 70 injured in a
Palestinian suicide strike outside a restaurant in Tel Aviv. Fatah and
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility while the Hamas-led government called
the bombing legitimate. The bomber was identified as a university student
from the West Bank city of Jenin.
"This attack was within the framework of the legitimate right for
resistance against Israeli violations and crimes," PA Prisoner Affairs
Minister Wasfi Kabha said.
The sources said Iran told visiting Hamas leaders last week that
Teheran's financial support to the PA would be linked to continuing the
Palestinian war against Israel. They said Iran encouraged Hamas to assume
control of PA security agencies, nominally headed by PA Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas.
Hamas has been examining an offer by Abbas for the Hamas-led government
to take control of the Gaza border. Last week, Abbas sent a letter to
Haniyeh that offered to transfer authority of the Rafah border terminal and
facilities along the Israeli border to the Hamas-controlled Interior
Ministry.
"The issue of the crossings was recently discussed with the president,"
PA spokesman Ghazi Hamad said. "We in government have no problem to keep the
crossing control in the hand of
President Abu Mazen as it serves the common interest of the Palestinian
people."
The sources said the EU would withdraw its 70-member monitor force from
Rafah should the facility be transferred to the Interior Ministry. On April
11, in an effort to prevent a Hamas takeover, Abbas ordered 150 members of
the Force 17 praetorian guard to replace PA police and security forces at
Rafah.
At a weekend conference in Teheran, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders
pledged to support Iran in any war against Israel or the United States.
Palestinian sources said insurgency leaders pledged to help Iran deter or
retaliate for a U.S. air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
"We can expect a significant increase in attacks from factions dependent
on Iran," another Palestinian source said. "Under Hamas, the PA would do all
it can to facilitate these attacks."