Abbas sacks security chief after loss in Gaza

Fatah officials also urge Palestinian Authority president to fire national security advisor Dahlan

Ali Waked|Published: 06.22.07 , 16:01

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sacked a top security chief who commanded the forces routed by Hamas in Gaza last week, officials said on Friday. Abbas issued a decree firing Rashid Abu Shbak, the head of internal security and a leading official in Fatah.

The order, which "stripped (Shbak) of his tasks as general director," gave no details as to why he was being fired or whether he was being blamed for the June 14 defeat of his forces in the Gaza Strip to Hamas.

The appointment of Shbak, formerly Preventative Security Forces chief, to internal security chief a few months ago exacerbated clashes between Fatah and Hamas. The Islamist group claimed Shbak was causing the tension by hampering the movement of Hamas ministers.

In fact, Shbak offered to resign a month ago over a feud with a minister of the defunct national unity government, an offer which Abbas rejected at the time, possibly because Hamas had been calling so loudly for his dismissal.

The leading candidate to replace Shbak is Jibril Rajoub, also a former chief of the Preventative Security Service who served in that capacity during Operation Defensive Shield. More recently, he served as an advisor to Abbas.

Rajoub, who was Yasser Arafat's national security advisor before the PLO leader's death, is considered one of the strongest Fatah members. He receives widespread support among the organization, but was criticized by a small group for alleged neutrality during the battles over control of Gaza last week.

Reorganization

Abbas issued two other decrees on Friday to further consolidate his control over the West Bank where Fatah holds sway over Hamas. One of the decrees dissolved a national security council, effectively preventing Hamas, which has rejected Abbas's emergency government, from having any role.

The Palestinian leader also cancelled the clause of a law requiring approval of cabinet minister appointments by the Palestinian parliament, where Hamas has a majority.

Some Fatah officials have urged Abbas to fire his national security adviser, Mohammad Dahlan, over the failures in Gaza, where Dahlan had his main power base. However, Dahlan appears to have kept his job for now.