[articles] Palestinian Authority Crumbling?

mike65

From CTV

Anger is spreading over Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat's security force overhaul. On Sunday, gunmen burned down the offices of Arafat's Palestinian Authority in Gaza.

Some say Arafat's action falls short of real reform. Arafat, meanwhile, met with his prime minister Ahmed Qureia, who tried to resign from his post on Saturday.

"I totally reject your resignation and consider it nonexistent," Arafat said to Qureia in a meeting Sunday according to Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat.

Qureia had told his Cabinet Saturday that he was firm in his decision to step down. He remained in power Sunday and said he would announce a final decision on Monday.

The militants who attacked the Palestinian Authority offices were outraged over the appointment of Moussa Arafat, Yasser's cousin, as the new chief of security.

But even members of Arafat's own Fatah movement were furious over the move, saying Moussa symbolizes the corruption and cronyism of the Palestinian Authority.

Although the anger is widespread, the violence was confined to the borders of the Gaza Strip.

Late Saturday, thousands of protesters marched to the Palestinian Legislative Council building to voice their disapproval.

"Listen, listen Abu Amr," they chanted. "We don't agree with your decisions and we don't agree with the appointments."

The region seems to be slipping into increasing chaos since Friday, when militants conducted three separate kidnappings. All of the hostages were eventually released unharmed, but militants have managed to instill fear into the public mind.

In Israel meanwhile, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began coalition talks with opposition Shimon Peres. Sharon is trying to gain support for his Gaza pullout plan.

from al jezeera

A series of emergency talks are being held to resolve a political crisis that has aroused with the resignation of the Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.

Mr Qurei's resignation was sparked by a wave of kidnappings in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat held talks with Mr Qurei for long hours on Sunday in an attempt to persuade him not to resign.

Mr Qurei wants Mr Arafat to grant him more powers to deal with the deterioration of the Palestine’s security situation.

A state of emergency remains in force in Gaza.

'Non-existent'

Anti occupation fighters claimed responsibility for Friday's kidnappings - including that of a senior police chief and four French aid workers - to protest against corruption within the Palestinian Authority and lack of reform of security services.

Mr Qurei described current security situation in Gaza as "a real disaster, a real catastrophe, and an unprecedented lawlessness".

Mr Arafat responded by announcing an overhaul of security - cutting to three the number of services from eight - a long-standing demand of international mediators.

But the appointment of his nephew, Musa Arafat, as public security chief stirred outrage among hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night.

Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat said Mr Arafat refused Mr Qurei's resignation: "I totally reject your resignation and consider it non-existent."

The Palestinian cabinet is set to meet on Monday.

All this puts pressure on the Palestinian leader. Palestinian officials fear they may be facing a period of extended political turmoil, says the BBC's David Chazan in Jerusalem.

But most commentators expect Mr Arafat to survive this crisis as he has so many others in the past, BBC correspondent adds.

Protests

More than 2,000 Palestinians gathered in front of the Legislative Council headquarters in Gaza City and shouted slogans denouncing the new appointments, particularly that of Musa Arafat.

"We don't agree with your decisions and we don't agree with the appointments," they shouted.

"It's not acceptable to fight corruption with more corruption. It's forbidden to change one corrupt man for another," said Samir Mashrawi, a member of Mr Arafat's Fatah movement.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades fighters, linked to Mr Arafat's Fatah movement, stormed and burned down a military intelligence post in Khan Yunis.

In a statement, al-Aqsa said it a response to the appointment of Musa Arafat, whom they described as corrupt.

The group threatened what it described as more tough action if General Arafat did not step down.

But the violence and the tone of al-Aqsa's remarks are a sign of how grave the security crisis in the Gaza Strip has become, says BBC correspondent there, Alan Johnston.

They are also a sign of the depth and bitterness of the division within Mr Arafat's Fatah movement, correspondent says.

Passing storm or the beginning of the end for Arafat and his cabal? The outlook seems very poor esp when the IDF pull out of Gazza, it'll proberly turn into a free-for-all
after which the likes of Hamas will proberly be strongest.

Mike.