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Palestinian Arabs

Abbas has not reformed security forces


By Ryan Jones
September 27, 2005

In contrast to a more upbeat State Department assessment, US envoy Lt. Gen. William Ward last week revealed the Palestinian Authority is still doing little in the way of meeting its commitments for security reform.

On Monday, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters the work Ward has done with the PA over the past month has resulted in ?progress in terms of their organization, in command and control and in terms of what equipment they have to act as a cohesive security force.?

But last Wednesday Ward told the House International Relations subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia very little had in fact been achieved.

While the PA had taken ?initial steps to reform [its] security forces,? Ward said PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas had failed to follow through on implementation of his decrees and promises.

Among other things, Ward censured Abbas over his failure to reduce the number of PA security officers, submit a review of his forces to the US and other donor nations, and cooperate with efforts to determine the PA's security requirements in terms of vehicles and equipment.

The general noted that PA non-compliance in these areas was holding up some $3 billion in international aid, while ?Palestinian? officials complain of their inability to meet Israel's security demands.

Ward also seemed to counter Bush Administration praise for the PA's prevention of terrorist attacks during Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, explaining that the relative calm at the time was by and large the result of Egyptian pressure.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who chaired the hearing, said the ?spotlight has now clearly shifted to the Palestinian Authority, which must now show that it can effectively and successfully govern Gaza.?

Continued failure to do so, she warned, ?will undermine any hopes for progress toward peace? and an independent Palestinian Arab state.

Congressman Gary Ackerman was more scathing in his criticism.

?On good days, the Palestinian Authority is rife with corruption and riddled with political hacks and thugs,? the congressman said. ?It vacillates, caves and pretends that appeasement is the highest of political virtues.?

?Yet this is the horse we are betting on!? an incredulous Ackerman exclaimed.

He criticized the Bush Administration for dealing with the PA with kid gloves, noting, ?They never deliver anything, and that is because they have come to the conclusion we are a bunch of paper tigers.?

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