Arafat Fires Security, Police Chiefs

AP | 7/02/02

[kattracks]

Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat Fires West Bank Security Chief, Gaza Police Chief

RAMALLAH, West Bank July 2 — Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday fired his West Bank security chief and Gaza police chief, officials said, in what appeared to be a move to reform his highly criticized security service.

West Bank Preventive Security Chief Jibril Rajoub told The Associated Press that he had been informed of Arafat's decision. However, Gaza police chief Ghazi Jibali insisted the reports were "rumors."

Rajoub is one of the most powerful figures in the West Bank but has had a falling-out with Arafat. During a previous incursion into the West Bank, Israeli forces destroyed Rajoub's headquarters, and he ordered the men inside to surrender, losing face among many Palestinians.

Arafat has been under pressure to reform his security services. Israel and the United States have insisted that he must streamline the agencies and turn them toward preventing terror attacks against Israel.

When he reshuffled his Cabinet last month, Arafat named Gen. Abdel Razak Yihiyeh as interior minister, in charge of the security services, a post Arafat had held before.

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[TheTopRead]

So let me see if I got this straight: Arafat is reforming his security forces by removing the guy who showed some restraint by ordering his men to surrender and, in so doing, lost face with the Palestinians people. So who IS going to replace him? Someone more moderate? I don't think so.

If that's called reform, then maybe oral sex really isn't sex and it all depends on what the meaning of "is" is. . . Top

[facedown]

ping

[RoseofTexas]

I read somewhere or saw on the tube that there were around 4,000 people protesting at AraFARTS gates on Monday or Sunday. They were protesting lack of jobs and food. I feel so sorry for them, AraFART should be thrown against the wall and SHOT! Perhaps, just perhaps this is the start of a revolt. I PRAY so! If Mr. Bush strategy begins to take shape in the Middle East according to his plan, the man is just sheer brilliant and God's hand is surely upon him!

[knighthawk]

He fired them because they were bad terrorists, and with all the competition from Hamas...