The result, the sources said, have been several well-publicized PA troop
deployments in Jenin and Nablus over the last six months. The sources said
in each case, the PA undertook one or two operations, attended by the
Israeli
and foreign media, to tout Palestinian security capabilities.
"When the cameras left, the security situation returned to what it had
been before," another security source said. "But the PA commanders received
envelopes full of U.S. dollars."
In Nablus, the sources said, discipline has declined as officers
outnumber soldiers. They said 300 officers and 200 soldiers have been
deployed in Nablus since late 2007.
In Jenin, the PA deployed 600 National Security Force and Presidential
Guard troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Suleiman Umran. The troops, the
sources said, were rushed from a training program in Jordan to battle
suspected Palestinian insurgents, and in their first operations began
shooting civilians.
"It was chaos," a PA security officer recalled. "At one point, field
officers called the commander and said one of the shot civilians was dying.
The commander said 'Let him die. I don't care.' Another officer with the
commander learned that this man was his cousin and began shouting at the
commander to take the injured man to the hospital."
The sources said the PA has replaced most of its command structure with
those loyal to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. They said this has alienated
many veteran commanders who have resisted Fayyad's authority.
"Dayton has helped install a whole new set of commanders who are loyal
to the United States and by extension Fayyad," a PA security source said.
"The old guys are gone and the new commanders get paid for each operation
that satisfies Dayton."
Over the last month, PA National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Jibril
Rajoub retired amid a dispute with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. General
Intelligence director Col. Tawfiq Tirawi, who rejected Fayyad, has been
sidelined and no longer has direct control over PA security.
In May, Rajoub criticized Abbas, saying the PA chairman lacked vision.
Palestinian sources said PSA commanders have received money to follow
Fayyad's orders and maintain independence from Rajoub.
"The entire effort is built on getting paid your bonuses," the source
said. "One commander has already received $250,000, enough to buy a house."
British and French intelligence agencies have been helping in the effort
to enhance PA security forces. The sources said British and French
intelligence have been training GI in 2008.
"There has been a serious expansion of Western intelligence in the West
Bank," a PA security officer said.
Under the U.S. effort, 8,000 PA officers over age 45 were given early
retirement. The sources said many of them, fearing a loss of status, begged
to remain on the force for half their salary.
The sources said the dismissed officers have been deemed a threat to
Fayyad. On May 25, security guards foiled a purported attempt to assassinate
Fayyad when a man was arrested with an envelope filled with a highly-toxic
poison at Fayyad's office in Ramallah. Two security guards who handled the
envelope were hospitalized.
"A rash spread on the guards skin after they attempted to open the
suspect envelope, and they were transferred to a hospital immediately,"
Fayyad aide Jamal Zaqut said. "Then, they were discharged later and the
envelope was sent to laboratory for tests."
To see these two men honored by President Bush with the Presidential Medal of Freedom was shocking.
They both deserved major reprimands and removal from their posts, rather than medals. Their effrontery has no bounds evidenced when each produced a book seeking to absolve themselves of blame. Both have since been hooted off the stage by the reading public.