Abbas appoints long-time Hamas foe to security post
Source: Reuters
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, March 18 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in his first decree after joining a unity government with Hamas, appointed on Sunday the Islamist group's long-time foe to oversee the divided security forces. The appointment of Mohammad Dahlan, one of the most powerful Fatah leaders, as national security adviser elevated his official role in the chaotic security hierarchy at a time when both sides say they want to bring an end to factional fighting. The swearing-in on Saturday of a unity government pairing the rival Hamas and Fatah factions has not resolved differences over control of the security services. Tensions remain high, particularly in the Gaza Strip. As the unity deal was being finalised last week, an intelligence officer loyal to Abbas's Fatah faction was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, a BBC correspondent was kidnapped and a U.N. relief convoy was attacked. At the government's inaugural meeting on Sunday, officials said their goal was to quickly put an end to factional fighting that has killed more than 300 Palestinians in the past year. "We know it is a difficult mission and it will not be easy, but it has been placed as a first priority for the unity government," Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouthi said. Top Abbas adviser Nabil Abu Rdainah said Abbas's decree reestablished an umbrella Palestinian National Security Council that will, in theory, oversee all of the security services. "All issues will be presented before the security council in order to determine solutions," Abu Rdainah said. Palestinian officials and analysts say the fate of Hamas's Executive Force will be the most difficult issue to resolve. Hamas says it is pushing ahead with plans to double the size of the contingent to 12,000 members. Fatah wants it dismantled. Dahlan said he would serve as the council's top adviser and secretary as well as "a back up to the minister of interior." Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas settled on the appointment of Hani al-Qawasmi, an academic with no security experience, to serve as interior minister. But officials say Qawasmi is unlikely to wield much power. CRACKDOWN Hamas has long viewed Dahlan as its greatest rival. As Gaza security chief in the 1990s, he led a crackdown on Islamists. In recent months, Hamas activists accused Dahlan of trying to assassinate Haniyeh and of unofficially commanding pro-Fatah forces in the factional fighting. "We are ready to forget the past, but we will be looking to the future and everybody is going to face the test," Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said of Dahlan. Zakaria al-Qaq, a Palestinian security expert at al-Quds University, said Hamas and Fatah were now enjoying a "honeymoon period" but warned that suspicions on both sides ran deep. "They will be watching each other very closely and very carefully, and they will be very suspicious of Dahlan," Qaq said. "The council will supervise ... the performance of security services to make sure they are neutral and serving a national agenda and not a factional political agenda," Barhoum said. A Palestinian security adviser, who declined to be identified, said Dahlan would consider different ways to integrate the security forces. One option is requiring members to give up their memberships in Fatah and Hamas. Dahlan is a favourite of the United States but it is unclear what direct role Washington will play going forward. An $86 million American plan to train and equip Abbas's security forces has been put on hold because of congressional concerns about his power-sharing deal with Hamas. But some of the work is going forward using European and Arab funds, Western diplomats said. (Additional reporting by Adam Entous)
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