The PA security plan, drafted by the Interior Ministry, called for the
replacement of Western security trainers with Palestinians, Middle East Newsline reported. Palestinians
would be selected to instruct police and other security officers in a range
of skills.
"The idea is to have only Palestinians train and direct the security
forces," a PA official said. "Dayton's role would be limited to bringing money and equipment for the
security forces. He would not deal with PA operations
or deployment."
The official said the PA draft covered security requirements and goals
for the next two years. He said the plan has been divulged to only a handful
of senior officials, including Interior Minister Said Abu Ali and several
security chiefs.
The plan was drafted in 2010 amid agreement by Abu Ali and Prime
Minister Salam Fayad to restrict U.S. involvement in PA security forces.
Officials said the PA leadership, prodded by the ruling Fatah movement,
determined that U.S. intervention was hampering security force
development and undermining the legitimacy of the regime of PA Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas.
A key step was the PA decision not to renew the contract of DynCorp
International, responsible for training and mentoring Palestinian security
forces in the West Bank and Jordan. The official said the Palestinians have
succeeded DynCorp in conducting a two-month officers course while
training in Jordan has been suspended.
In the future stage, the official said, Dayton, in his post since 2007,
would be marginalized. Dayton's staff has already been restricted to
coordination with the Interior Ministry and was no longer involved in direct
training or planning.
In 2010, Dayton's staff was expelled from the Interior Ministry's
Strategic Planning Department. Dayton's staff was also said to have been
racked by internal disputes, and in February the general replaced his
British deputy director.
Still, the PA has failed to replace DynCorp in the West Bank. PA sources
said the officers course given by DynCorp in Ramallah has been suspended
for lack of PA trainers.
"It is clear that the political considerations [in reducing U.S.
influence] have been dominant," the official said.