The report said Abbas must continue to battle Hamas efforts to penetrate
the Palestinian Authority. Hamas, which took over the Gaza Strip in 2007,
said it had infiltrated PA security forces expanded under an effort by the
United States.
"Hamas taunts Abbas mainly on his attempt to build up his security
forces," the report said. "It points to the 14,000-troop expansion that took
place in AbbasÕ security forces in Gaza in 2005-06. Hamas claims that 9,000
of those troops were Hamas supporters who infiltrated the security forces
and ensured that when push came to shove, most of the 30,000 personnel in
the security forces refrained from fighting a vastly outnumbered but
victorious Hamas."
The United States has spent several hundreds of millions of dollars to
train and equip PA security forces. But Frisch, an associate professor at
Bar-Ilan University and regarded as one of the leading Israeli analysts on
Palestinian society, said Abbas must be prepared for difficulties in
maintaining the U.S. program.
"Abbas must also reflect on the problems of the American efforts to
build an effective military force in Iraq and Afghanistan," the report said.
"For these reasons, for the time being Abbas will continue security
cooperation with Israel to ensure his control of the West Bank."
Frisch said Abbas has agreed to help destroy insurgency groups in the
West Bank, including Fatah's military wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The PA
chairman also submitted to Israeli demands to dismantle Hamas's social
welfare structure.
"Concurrently, despite the Gaza failure, Abbas joined forces with U.S.
Gen. Keith Dayton in building the Palestinian security forces, and
finally, in controlling and neutralizing potential Fatah opposition," the
report said.
Still, Abbas has not abandoned his goal to establish a Palestinian
state. The report said Abbas along with former Fatah security chief Mohammed
Dahlan have concluded that the PA would reserve an option to spark another
war with Israel in an effort to accelerate the state. In contrast, Marwan
Barghouti and other so-called revolutionaries on the Fatah Central Council
have advocated the need for a sustained revolt against Israel.
"A Palestinian house divided cannot make peace, meaning that U.S.
President Obama will be left to pressure Israel and the PA into making
motions devoid of substance in a new status quo that benefits both Abbas and
even more so, Israel," the report said.
