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.