The Palestinian Authority’s security organizations are unable to assume security control of cities in the West Bank, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad told senior Israeli officials during recent meetings. Fayad told Israeli officials that the PA’s security forces are unable “to impose law and order in the West Bank at this time.”
This report from Harretz, is astonishing. Not because what Fayed says is something we didn’t already know… indeed, this is exactly why Israel went in there in the first place… but because he’s actually admitting it.
Frankly, I find myself being suspicious, this morning. When somebody does something like this that is so far out of character, it raises eyebrows. Clearly Fayed thinks he has something to gain by Israel staying in place. Personally, I would guess he’s feeling threatened by his own people. And that of itself is not surprising, the Palestinians have as a rule rejected any authority over them. Hamas has been particularly troublesome, even in defeat, and particularly so on the west bank.
It is my guess that Fayed is finding that control of the situation with Hamas and other groups beyond his grasp, alone.
that does not bode well for future peace in the region. It’s also, as I say, unsurprising. I’d take his admitting this problem to the Israelis, as indication of just how far out of his reach control of the situation is.
Tags: BitsBlog, Middle East Affairs
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