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U.S. retains security coordinator to work with Abbas, not Hamas

Special to World Tribune.dom
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

TEL AVIV — The U.S. security coordinator for the Middle East plans to stay in the region for at least another year.

Officials said the Bush administration has decided to keep U.S. security coordinator Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton in the region through 2007. They said Dayton would continue to work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to improve security.

"He will help with U.S. plans to reform and strengthen the Palestinian Authority security forces," a U.S. official said.

The official said Dayton helped arrange the current ceasefire between PA and the United States. He said the U.S. commander has monitored PA security strength and oversaw the deployment of forces in their unsuccessful effort to stop Palestinian missile fire against Israel.

Officials acknowledged that Dayton has encountered little success in his efforts. They said the United States has not sought to reform the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, which control the police and some of the security reforms.

"In terms of Hamas, we don't work with them." State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Monday. "They're a terrorist organization. And any sort of forces that would fall under their control, we don't work with."

Instead, Dayton, who began his post in March 2006, has sought to help PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas develop forces loyal to him. Officials said the State Department has approved a $42 million plan to expand Abbas's Presidential Guard from the current 3,500 to up to 10,000.

"We are involved in building up the Presidential Guard, instructing it, assisting it to build itself up and giving them ideas," Dayton said. "We are not training the forces to confront Hamas."

As part of the program to help the Presidential Guard, the Bush administration has supported a demand by Abbas to bring at least 1,000 members of the so-called Palestinian Liberation Army from Jordan to the Gaza Strip. Abbas would then recruit the PLA troops into the Presidential Guard.

"The decision would have to be made by the governments of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians," Dayton said. "But the idea is a logical one both militarily and politically."

In a Nov. 24 interview with the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, Dayton said the United States wants to help Abbas and whom he termed "moderate forces" in the PA. Dayton said Iran and possibly Syria was aiding Hamas and its allies.

"Hamas is receiving money and arms from Iran and possibly Syria, and we must make sure that the moderate forces will not be erased," Dayton said.

Since the Hamas takeover of the PA in March 2006, Dayton has sought to facilitate Palestinian movement between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Officials said the State Department has allocated tens of millions of dollars for advanced equipment to monitor Palestinian cargo to and from the Gaza Strip. The Karni terminal has been the most active border facility between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

"We have money to train the Presidential Guard to work the Karni crossing, and the aim is to open the crossings like last year with 400 trucks going into Israel every day," Dayton said.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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