Palestinian security backs down on pledge to crack down on Ramallah gunmen who attack Abbas' office

Palestinian officials on Thursday backed away from a declaration that they would go after gunmen who shot up Mahmoud Abbas' office building and rampaged through Ramallah, underlining the difficulties authorities face in restoring order in the chaotic West Bank.

Abbas, who was in the building but was not hurt in the gunfire late Wednesday, ordered a crackdown, and security officials said the renegades had "crossed a red line" by attacking the seat of government. But in the light of day, the officials adopted a conciliatory line, and one admitted they feared coming under armed attack themselves.

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, during a visit to the US, commented on the incident, "This act shows that Abbas must act swiftly against the terror groups."

Abbas has vowed to bring law and order to Palestinian areas and to reform his overlapping and corruption-plagued security forces.

The task is difficult. More than four years of conflict with Israel have badly weakened the Palestinian security forces. Many insurgent cells have begun acting like street gangs, using their weapons and positions to accumulate power, which they are reluctant to cede to Abbas.

In the framework of a truce declared February 8, Israel handed two West Bank towns back to Palestinian security control. The agreement was for five towns, but Israel halted the process, charging that Palestinian security has not carried out a pledge to disarm fugitives.

The truce has almost halted Palestinian-Israeli violence and has focused attention on internal Palestinian problems.

Abbas has been working to bring insurgents under control by persuasion. He met with a group of them Tuesday, asking them to disarm, abide by the truce with Israel and return to normal Palestinian life.

Late Wednesday, security officials ejected six rebels from Abbas' headquarters, where they had sought refuge several years ago after Israel began hunting down fugitives, they said. Arafat had allowed more than 20 fugitives to take refuge in Palestinian Authority headquarters.

Security officials said they had asked the six - all former members of the security forces themselves - to rejoin their units and hand over their weapons or leave the compound. One official said on condition of anonymity that "they were involved in kidnappings, blackmailing, harming people, shooting them."

The men, along with nine other fugitives, then attacked the compound before rampaging through the city, damaging several restaurants, forcing shops to close and screaming threats against Abbas, witnesses and officials said. No injuries were reported.

Abbas responded by ordering the combatants arrested, more troops deployed throughout the city and compensation paid to the businesses that were damaged, security officials said.

An official fumed, "They have crossed the red line. They attacked the presidential headquarters. They are defying the Palestinian Authority and now we have to take harsh steps against them, otherwise they will control the city and spread chaos."

But the security commanders quickly climbed down.

One of the insurgents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had reached a compromise and agreed to return to their units, though they would not serve inside Abbas' headquarters.

A Palestinian security official confirmed that, adding that the rebels would be demoted one rank. Another official said they could not be arrested, because their colleagues would attack the Palestinian Authority's forces.

Source: Jerusalem Post