Palestinian Authority (P.A.) Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas has reappointed Gen. Isma’il Jabr as head of all security forces in the West Bank, the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-‘Arabi reports. Jabr will also serve as the chairman’s security adviser.
This move came following an announcement by Interior Minister Sa’id ‘Siyam, according to which he would expand the ministry’s Executive Force to the West Bank cities. The Executive Force was established after Hamas rose to power in March. It includes 5,500 security men under the control of the Hamas government, who have spread mainly into the Gaza Strip.
The interior minister’s announcement last week further escalated the feud between Hamas and Fatah. In the past few weeks several incidents between armed men of the two factions have ended with multiple casualties on both sides.
‘Abbas decided to replace some of the current top security officials with security officers who served under the late chairman Yassir Arafat, a security source told Al-Quds Al-‘Arabi. The source added ‘Abbas was not satisfied with the work of the heads of the security branches, and wanted to benefit from the expertise of the old guard.
Meanwhile, Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip kidnapped today (Tuesday) a Spanish photographer working for the Associated Press. The photographer was seized just outside his residence. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.