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Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) reportedly submitted his resignation, but Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat rejected it.
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| By Ellis Shuman July 18, 2004 |
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"The anarchy in the Palestinian Authority is not good for Israel and we don't desire its collapse," Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said at today's government meeting. "We are interested in having moderate forces taking responsibility and introducing the necessary reforms. Only by fully implementing these reforms, and taking authority over the security forces away from [Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser] Arafat, will stability return to the PA," Shalom said.
"As long as Arafat continues to control Palestinian funds and security forces, the anarchy will continue," Shalom said.
Shalom was responding to the wave of demonstrations, violence and kidnappings in the Gaza Strip over the weekend. According to Israeli media reports, the Palestinian Authority is near collapse, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) has submitted his resignation, and the Gaza infighting was initiated by gunmen associated with former Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan as part of the struggle for control after a possible Israeli withdrawal.
Much of the violence was connected to the appointment of Arafat's relative, Mussa Arafat, as commander of the Palestinian security forces in Gaza. This morning, masked gunmen torched a PA security headquarters in Khan Yunis.
Thousands of people marched in Gaza City on Saturday night to protest Mussa Arafat's appointment. Fatah activists shouted, "No to corruption. Yes to reform and change," as Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades gunmen fired into the air. In a statement from Jenin, the Aqsa Brigades described Mussa Arafat as a symbol of corruption and warned that his appointment will lead to internal conflict.
According to media reports, the instability in the Palestinian Authority has strengthened Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's resolve to implement the disengagement plan, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. "This once again proves that there is no one to talk to [on the Palestinian side]," Sharon said.
"The current crisis in the PA, like the previous one, is likely to end only if the government of Israel implements its decision to the remove the barrier to peace, Yassar Arafat," said MK Ehud Yatom. "It would be better if Israel did not wait in vain for a third Palestinian government," he said.
MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) called on Arafat to resign, "Arafat go home. Abu Ala remain," Pines-Paz said. "It is no wonder that Arafat rejected Abu Ala's letter of resignation because Abu Ala was actually hinting that Arafat ought to resign, since he bears overall responsibility for the anarchy in the PA."
Minister of Science and Technology Eliezer Sandberg (Shinui) said that the situation proves that "Arafat is still pulling the strings and keeping moderates from having any authority. Arafat has been and continues to be an obstacle to peace."
MK Yuli Shtern (National Union) said: "The chaos gives us an opportunity to win a military victory in the war on terrorism. Instead of running away, the State of the Israel should dismantle the PA institutions and contain terrorism."
Yahad leader Yossi Beilin said that the collapse of the Palestinian Authority endangers Israel as well. "Today it became clear how erroneous Sharon's policy of destroying the Palestinian infrastructure has been because the alternative is chaos. Before it is too late we must resume dialogue with PA leaders, especially Abu Ala, and reach an agreed settlement," he said.
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