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Hamas government to unpaid security: Take it out on Israel
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, April 19, 20066
GAZA CITY The Palestinian Authority has encouraged security officers to turn their wrath on Israel.
Palestinian sources said Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Interior Minister Said Siyyam have met disgruntled PA officers and urged them to join the insurgency war against Israel. The meetings came amid threats against the PA by police and security officers who did not receive their salaries for March.
"Under Hamas, the Interior Ministry has told unpaid security officers that the more attacks against Israel, the more money they would get from Iran and other countries," a Palestinian source said.
The PA has about 70,000 police and security troops, Middle East Newsline reported. Hamas has also been organizing a separate force estimated to comprise about 5,000 fighters.
On Monday, Hamas leaders concluded talks with Iran regarding its support of the PA. So far, Iran and Qatar have separately pledged $50 million each in an effort to compensate for the shortfall of funding that had been provided by the European Union and the United States.
Qatar, with a major U.S. military presence, has been regarded as a leading supporter of Hamas. The PA requires about $150 million per month to provide services and pay its 140,000 employees.
"We'd seek a little clarity from the government of Qatar as to exactly what they're intentions are, to whom they actually intend to give this money and under what circumstances," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "We will see to whom they have actually pledged and intend to give that money."
On Monday, at least nine people were killed and 70 injured in a Palestinian suicide strike outside a restaurant in Tel Aviv. Fatah and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility while the Hamas-led government called the bombing legitimate. The bomber was identified as a university student from the West Bank city of Jenin.
"This attack was within the framework of the legitimate right for resistance against Israeli violations and crimes," PA Prisoner Affairs Minister Wasfi Kabha said.
The sources said Iran told visiting Hamas leaders last week that Teheran's financial support to the PA would be linked to continuing the Palestinian war against Israel. They said Iran encouraged Hamas to assume control of PA security agencies, nominally headed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas has been examining an offer by Abbas for the Hamas-led government to take control of the Gaza border. Last week, Abbas sent a letter to Haniyeh that offered to transfer authority of the Rafah border terminal and facilities along the Israeli border to the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry.
"The issue of the crossings was recently discussed with the president," PA spokesman Ghazi Hamad said. "We in government have no problem to keep the crossing control in the hand of President Abu Mazen as it serves the common interest of the Palestinian people."
The sources said the EU would withdraw its 70-member monitor force from Rafah should the facility be transferred to the Interior Ministry. On April 11, in an effort to prevent a Hamas takeover, Abbas ordered 150 members of the Force 17 praetorian guard to replace PA police and security forces at Rafah.
At a weekend conference in Teheran, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders pledged to support Iran in any war against Israel or the United States. Palestinian sources said insurgency leaders pledged to help Iran deter or retaliate for a U.S. air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
"We can expect a significant increase in attacks from factions dependent on Iran," another Palestinian source said. "Under Hamas, the PA would do all it can to facilitate these attacks."
