Published in the Jerusalem Post
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1089955404386
Jul. 19, 2004
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
PA Chairman Yasser Arafat on Monday rescinded his decision to appoint his cousin Mussa Arafat as overall commander of Palestinian security forces and reinstated former commander Abdel Razik Majaida, who resigned last week following a chain of kidnappings in the Gaza Strip.
PA officials said Arafat's decision came following fierce opposition by many Palestinians who accused General Arafat of corruption.
Arafat's decision was to diffuse tension between him and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
At the end of Monday's cabinet meeting, Qurei still refused – however – to reconsider his resignation.
Eighteen Palestinians were injured overnight Sunday in Rafah during clashes between factions loyal to Arafat's cousin Musa Arafat and Fatah loyalists – opposed to his appointment as commander of the Palestinian Authority's National Security Forces in the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of armed Fatah members surrounded the offices of the Gaza general security forces, demanding the chairman rescind the nomination of his nephew. Deputy health minister Suphian Abu Zaideh told Army Radio Sunday that Mussa Arafat is considered one of the most corrupt officials in the Palestinian Administration, and predicted the Palestinian public would not stand by while he was in office.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that Yasser Arafat's latest round of appointments and dismissals was no more that a phony reform, "Musical chairs that doesn't lead in any new direction for the Palestinian people.
On Sunday night, over 150 Palestinian gunmen affiliated with Fatah's al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades attacked the Rafah headquarters of the newly appointed commander, Channel 1 reported.
Musa Arafat, whose appointment has prompted a wave of demonstrations, spent the night surrounded by dozens of his soldiers.
Meanwhile, PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei is expected to convene his cabinet Monday in Ramallah and hand in his resignation. Sources close to the Palestinian premiere told Israel Radio that he is determined to resign.
The appointment of Musa Arafat has triggered an unprecedented wave of protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A number of senior PA security officials resigned following Musa's appointment.
Palestinian gunmen also vowed to publicize a list of PA officials suspected of corruption that they demand PA chairman Arafat dismiss and put on trial. Muhammad Dahlan and Musa Arafat feature in the Aksa corruption list, Channel 1 reported.
Earlier Sunday, Musa Arafat, announced that he has no intention of stepping aside.
"I will not resign from the position to which I have been appointed by His Excellency President Yasser Arafat," he told reporters in Gaza City shortly after taking command. "The only one who can fire me is the one who appointed me."
In Khan Yunis, scores of Fatah gunmen torched the local offices of Musa Arafat's Military Intelligence force.
The attackers released the prisoners who were being held inside the one-story complex and set it on fire after a brief exchange of gunfire with Military Intelligence officers.
"This is a clear message to the corrupt Musa Arafat that we will not allow his appointment to pass and that he should resign," said a statement issued by the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah.
In the West Bank city of Tulkarem, several hundred residents and Fatah gunmen staged a demonstration to protest against the appointment.
PA Naval Police head resigns to protest appointment
And in another blow to Yasser Arafat's efforts to prevent a further deterioration, the commander of the PA Naval Police, Gen. Juma'ah Ghali, on Sunday submitted his resignation in protest against the appointment.
Ghali told reporters that he was not prepared to work under Musa Arafat and warned that the PA areas were rapidly sliding into chaos.
Several Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip resigned on Sunday from the faction, which is headed by Yasser Arafat, demanding that Gen. Arafat be removed instantly.
"This corrupt man must go," said a senior Fatah official in the southern Gaza Strip. "President Arafat made a grave mistake by appointing this person. We will not deal with him at all and we insist that he be replaced. You don't fight corruption by appointing corrupt officials."
Sufian Abu Zaidah, another top Fatah leader, strongly condemned the appointment and indicated that the time has come for Yasser Arafat to step aside. He also called on PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei to resign, accusing him of failing to make any achievements in the eight months since he took over.
"President Arafat is responsible for this situation," he said. "We've had enough and we insist on real reforms. We are fed up with this method of administration."
Hafez Barghouti, the influential editor of the Ramallah-based daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, called on the PA chairman to stage a "bloodless coup" against corruption before he is toppled. "The existence of the armed militias is the product of the weakness of the Palestinian Authority," he said. "They are not less dangerous than corruption itself."
Shalom: PA anarchy bad for Israel
In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Sunday that the anarchy in the Palestinian Authority is not good for Israel. Israel is not interested in a total collapse of the PA, and calls on the relevant Palestinian security organizations to take responsibility for law and order and carry out reforms, Shalom added.
Defense Minister Mofaz scoffed at Arafat's reforms. "There are no real reforms in the Palestinian Authority. Arafat continues to hold onto his power and the changes he is making are not serious," he told the Cabinet. "They are playing musical chairs."
"I think this is the opportunity to get rid of Arafat," said Health Minister Danny Naveh. "Even in the Palestinian street they won't cry too much," he told Army Radio.