"Abbas had long sought to replace Tirawi, who he believed was seeking to
undermine him," a Palestinian source said.
Tirawi's appointment as security adviser was regarded as honorary.
Tirawi's deputy, Col. Mohammed Mansour, has been appointed interim GI
commander until a permanent replacement was found. GI has about 1,000
staffers.
Abbas dismissed the 61-year-old Tirawi amid a debate over reconciliation
with Hamas as well as resentment by other PA commanders. Tirawi was said to
have opposed any agreement that shares power with Hamas and would allow
members to join PA security forces. Hamas was also said to have demanded the
dismissal of several PA commanders, including Tirawi.
Tirawi has been long regarded as a mercurial figure who often clashed
with other PA commanders, particularly former Preventive Security Apparatus
chief Jibril Rajoub. In 2005, Tirawi announced his resignation in protest of
what he said was the PA's failure to impose order in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. Abbas refused to accept Tirawi's resignation.
The Palestinian news agency Maan said at least two commanders were
proposed to replace Tirawi. One was Capt. Sameh Abdul Majid, a leading
commander in PA military intelligence.
But Palestinian sources said the United States has encouraged Abbas to
eliminate GI. They said U.S. security coordinator Gen. Keith Dayton has
proposed that GI become part of the larger Preventive Security Apparatus,
headed by Col. Ziad Hab Al Rih.
Dayton was said to have urged that Abbas replace the commander of the
National Security Forces. The sources said Abbas, who has suggested that he
would remain in power through 2009, was considering replacing NSF commander
Diyab Abu Ali with Jihad Al Jayousi.
Al Jayousi has been serving as Abbas's military adviser. The sources
said Abu Ali would step down by 2009.
