Arafat Refuses To Hand Control of His 20,000 Palestinian Security Policemen Over To Deputy

by DEBKAfile

14 June 2003

Israeli-Palestinian security meeting Saturday night will review Dahlan’s plan to assume security responsibility for Gaza Strip. Mofaz: If Dahlan undertakes to halt Hamas terror and Qassam missile attacks, Israel will redeploy its Gaza Strip contingents as trial

In meeting with Palestinian security leaders in Ramallah Friday night, Arafat refuses to hand command of 20,000 Palestinian security officers in Gaza Strip to Dahlan. Second session Saturday morning.

Senior Israeli military sources: Resumed Israeli-Palestinian security exchanges will not halt terror spiral – even if Hamas consents to ceasefire

Arafat is poised to fill Hamas terror shoes with his Tanzim and al Aqsa Brigades in well distributed command posts and local squads. Violence level will continue to go up as long as this infrastructure is not eliminated.

Two Hamas Qassam missile crewmen killed, 20 injured, in missile attack by Israeli helicopters at targeted car in Gaza City Friday night. Second air strike demolished Qassam missile store. Earlier, fifth Palestinian missile in 24 hours demolished home in Israeli town of Sderot leaving four people in shock.

John Wolf arrives Saturday night to take up duties at head of 12-man US monitoring team for road map implementation. Weisglass flies to Washington Saturday night

Powell Friday: It’s important to get the terror down so there will be no need for action against terror. Calls for Israeli self-restraint. We’re trying to persuade, Hamas, Fatah and Tanzim.

Israeli motorist shot dead in Palestinian ambush near northern West Bank town of Jenin Friday night. Earlier, two Israeli women seriously injured in Palestinian shooting attack on their car near Neve Tsuf northeast of Ramallah. Saturday, Israeli paratroops capture suicide bomber preparing for action and two bomb belts in Tulkarm camp.