Foreign aid workers kidnapped in Gaza

Palestinian gunmen briefly abducted two foreign aid workers and their driver Monday in the Gaza town of Khan Younis before Palestinian security forces broke into the group's hideout and freed the hostages.

Palestinian security officials said Monday's kidnapping was carried out by a group loyal to Farouk Kaddoumi, a rival of PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and the most senior member of his ruling Fatah party.

The gunmen said the abduction was in response to the arrest of Kaddoumi's Khan Younis director Suleiman Abu Farra by security forces Sunday.

The hostages - two Swiss and one British man - were first taken to Kaddoumi's office in town, where they were then transferred to an apartment belonging to an al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member.

Palestinian security forces stormed the home and released the three aid workers.

Palestinian officers apologized to the foreigners on behalf of the PA and Palestinian nation and pledged to take legal action against those responsible.

Power struggle

Tensions have escalated between Abbas and Kaddoumi, despite a meeting in Cairo over the past few weeks in an attempt to bridge the gap.

The power struggle between the two is based on a difference of opinion regarding their division of power - particularly foreign policy -  which intensified after Abbas requested authority be granted to Foreign Minister Nasser Al Kidwa and Palestinian ambassadors.

Kaddoumi is convinced this step is against the law and harms his position, as he believes foreign policy falls under his jurisdiction as Chairman of the PLO's foreign desk.

This power struggle between Abbas and Kaddoumi has placed a burden on the PA's activities in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas and defense establishment leaders have invested much effort in clarifying the PA's position following Israel's pullout from Gaza, regarding its control over law and order in the region.

Qureia visits Jenin

Meanwhile, the Palestinian cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia met in the West Bank town of Jenin Monday, in a bid to prepare for PA control of the northern West Bank following Israel's withdrawal.

Meetings between the PA and Israeli officials regarding coordination for pullout have came to an end over the past few days. IDF troops are expected to continue their presence in Jenin and northern Samaria, despite a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Upon Qureia's arrival to Jenin, the Palestinian prime minister reiterated that Israel's pullout from Gaza and parts of the West Bank is just the first stop towards Jerusalem becoming the capital of a Palestinian state.

"Israel's pullout plan is a unilateral pan, and the Authority has no involvement in it," Qureia said. "However, let it be noted that the Authority is ready to receive all areas from which the IDF retreats."