Term almost over. President Abbas
Photo: Reuters
PA official: Hamas looking to destabilize Abbas' regime
Authority fears attack on officials, institutions ahead of expected political turmoil surrounding end of Abbas' term in January 2009; 'only way to weaken Hamas is to dismantle Jewish outposts, cease IDF operations in West Bank,' official says
The Palestinian Authority fears another wave of infighting in the West Bank as well as a series of attacks initiated by Hamas against targets in Israel aimed at destabilizing President Mahmoud Abbas' regime and hindering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Drastic Step
Ali Waked
Following Tzipi Livni's election as Kadima chairwoman, Palestinian president's top adviser says PA politicians may take drastic step of disbanding Authority if lasting agreement is not reached during current peace negotiations
A Palestinian security official told Ynet on Sunday that while it is estimated that Hamas will not be able to seize control of the West Bank, the Islamist group may look to weaken the Authority ahead of the expected political turmoil surrounding the end of Abbas' term in January 2009.
According to the official, Hamas leaders in Gaza and Damascus have ordered a number of cells to prepare to launch attacks against leading PA figures and institutions. He said the Hamas figure in charge of the operation is Ahmed Jabri, who is believed to be deputy chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing. Senior Palestinian terror suspect Muhammad Deif heads the Brigades.
'Enough power to cause damage'
On Saturday Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida warned that the continued arrest of Hamas members by PA security forces and the Authority's increased cooperation with Israel "pushed the moment of punishment forward".
The Palestinian official told Ynet that Hamas does not have the capability to take over the West Bank should Israel withdraw from the region in the framework of a future peace agreement with the PA.
"In the West Bank Hamas does not have an army of tens of thousands of fighters like in Gaza, but they have enough power to cause damage," he said, "so what we are demanding is that the Authority be given the opportunity to arm itself and train in order to minimize the potential damage Hamas may try to inflict."
The official added that Israel is obstructing the transfer of weapons to the PA and the deployment of Palestinian forces in key cities such as Hebron, where Hamas is particularly strong.
According to the official, the way to weaken Hamas is to speed up the peace talks and dismantle Israeli outposts and even settlements in the West Bank, as well as remove IDF roadblocks, grant entry permits to Palestinian workers and cease the IDF's operations in the West Bank.
