‘We’ll collect weapons’

Palestinian Authority Security Minister Mohammed Dahlan promised Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, early this morning, that the Palestinians will fulfill their responsibilities regarding control of the West Bank cities of Tulkarm and Jericho. Meanwhile, Dahlan said that the weapons of wanted suspects would be confiscated. The government officials met at a hotel last night and talked into the early morning hours about coordination between Israel and the PA during the period of disengagement. In recent weeks, the Israeli government has criticized PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for not doing enough to combat terror. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon even raised the issue during his Washington meeting with US President George W. Bush. Mahmoud Abbas weak Government sources in Washington say that no one in the Authority wants to take responsibility for reigning in terrorists right before the Palestinian parliamentary elections. “Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is weak and can’t deliver the goods,” said the source. Mofaz asked Abbas to send Palestinian security personnel to areas from where terrorists recently fired mortars on Gaza settlements. Mofaz told him, “You have to stop the firing and those behind it there’s no alternative.” Sharon, Abbas to meet At the same time, prime minister advisor Dov Weisglass met with PA official Saeb Erekat. The atmosphere of the meeting was described as “good,” and in the coming months, Sharon and Abbas are expected to meet after the latter returns from Washington. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala) agreed on economic cooperation following disengagement. Both agreed that securing the Erez Industrial Zone was a priority as it provided jobs for Palestinians in Gaza. (Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report)

‘We’ll collect weapons’

Mohammed Dahlan tells defense minister Palestinians will meet commitments for Tulkarm and Jericho security hand-over; Sharon and Abbas to meet next month; Peres and Qureia push economic cooperation