2Sheds_Jackson
07-19-2004, 09:59 AM
From CNN Monday, July 19, 2004 Posted: 8:23 AM EDT (1223 GMT)
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/07/19/mideast/top.pal.chief.jpg
RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Two officials both claimed Monday to be head of general security in Gaza and the West Bank, but Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was saying nothing.
No public announcement was made, but Abdel Razik Majeideh told reporters in Gaza he had been reinstated as security chief. Arafat nephew Mussa Arafat had replaced Majeideh as head of general security in Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday.
However, Mussa Arafat denied he had been fired, Palestinian sources said.
Yasser Arafat had announced a major restructuring of security services Saturday, including his relative's appointment. His office declined to comment on the latest developments.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, who has tried to quit twice over the security crisis, said Monday his written resignation still stands. At a press conference in Ramallah, West Bank, Qorei said he has not received a written response from Yasser Arafat. (Full story)
Jordanian King Abdullah II told CNN that Qorei's resignation would only weaken Palestinian institutions "at a time when we really need to be able to move on security."
Members of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades burned down offices of the Palestinian intelligence services Sunday in southern Gaza, protesting Mussa Arafat's appointment as security chief.
Yasser Arafat's other changes included consolidating more than 12 security agencies into three main units and replacing two top security officials.
Within hours of Saturday's announcement, leaders of Arafat's Fatah movement in southern Gaza resigned and about 2,000 demonstrators took to the streets, many of them armed, accusing Arafat of replacing "corruption with more corruption."
Al Aqsa released a statement Sunday saying it burned down the Palestinian Authority building in Khan Yunis.
Al Aqsa is a military offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement that has attacked military and civilian targets in Israel, and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. State Department considers it a foreign terrorist organization.
Al Aqsa members fired on guards outside the building, who then fled. The attackers also released people being held inside the building and stole weapons. Video from the scene showed cars around the building burning.
The statement said Al Aqsa would not be responsible for anything further that happened as a result of the shake-up.
Later Sunday, armed men protesting Arafat's security moves exchanged gunfire with members of the Palestinian security service outside the intelligence headquarters in Rafah, Gaza.
The incidents came amid a state of emergency in Gaza and upheaval in the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli government, in its weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, discussed preparations for dealing with possible changes in the Palestinian Authority.
Masked militants of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades demonstrate against security appointments Saturday in Gaza City.
Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said Qorei "is reaping the consequences of Arafat's misbehavior. Arafat is sowing corruption. Arafat is responsible for 12 different security organizations competing with each other. Arafat is responsible for the total disruption of political dialogue with Israel.
"And now the Palestinians are suffering because this is their leader."
U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen told the Security Council last week that the Palestinian Authority "is in deep distress and is in real danger of collapse," which "cannot be attributed only to the Israeli incursions and operations inside Palestinian towns."
Roed-Larsen specifically blamed Arafat for not carrying out promised reforms.
Man, is there any wonder why the area has degenerated into a massive sh*thole? The people in charge don't know who's in charge, and the people protesting don't even know who they're protesting against.
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/07/19/mideast/top.pal.chief.jpg
RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Two officials both claimed Monday to be head of general security in Gaza and the West Bank, but Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was saying nothing.
No public announcement was made, but Abdel Razik Majeideh told reporters in Gaza he had been reinstated as security chief. Arafat nephew Mussa Arafat had replaced Majeideh as head of general security in Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday.
However, Mussa Arafat denied he had been fired, Palestinian sources said.
Yasser Arafat had announced a major restructuring of security services Saturday, including his relative's appointment. His office declined to comment on the latest developments.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, who has tried to quit twice over the security crisis, said Monday his written resignation still stands. At a press conference in Ramallah, West Bank, Qorei said he has not received a written response from Yasser Arafat. (Full story)
Jordanian King Abdullah II told CNN that Qorei's resignation would only weaken Palestinian institutions "at a time when we really need to be able to move on security."
Members of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades burned down offices of the Palestinian intelligence services Sunday in southern Gaza, protesting Mussa Arafat's appointment as security chief.
Yasser Arafat's other changes included consolidating more than 12 security agencies into three main units and replacing two top security officials.
Within hours of Saturday's announcement, leaders of Arafat's Fatah movement in southern Gaza resigned and about 2,000 demonstrators took to the streets, many of them armed, accusing Arafat of replacing "corruption with more corruption."
Al Aqsa released a statement Sunday saying it burned down the Palestinian Authority building in Khan Yunis.
Al Aqsa is a military offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement that has attacked military and civilian targets in Israel, and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. State Department considers it a foreign terrorist organization.
Al Aqsa members fired on guards outside the building, who then fled. The attackers also released people being held inside the building and stole weapons. Video from the scene showed cars around the building burning.
The statement said Al Aqsa would not be responsible for anything further that happened as a result of the shake-up.
Later Sunday, armed men protesting Arafat's security moves exchanged gunfire with members of the Palestinian security service outside the intelligence headquarters in Rafah, Gaza.
The incidents came amid a state of emergency in Gaza and upheaval in the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli government, in its weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, discussed preparations for dealing with possible changes in the Palestinian Authority.
Masked militants of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades demonstrate against security appointments Saturday in Gaza City.
Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said Qorei "is reaping the consequences of Arafat's misbehavior. Arafat is sowing corruption. Arafat is responsible for 12 different security organizations competing with each other. Arafat is responsible for the total disruption of political dialogue with Israel.
"And now the Palestinians are suffering because this is their leader."
U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen told the Security Council last week that the Palestinian Authority "is in deep distress and is in real danger of collapse," which "cannot be attributed only to the Israeli incursions and operations inside Palestinian towns."
Roed-Larsen specifically blamed Arafat for not carrying out promised reforms.
Man, is there any wonder why the area has degenerated into a massive sh*thole? The people in charge don't know who's in charge, and the people protesting don't even know who they're protesting against.