Palestinians to police crime in Jenin - and maybe more

Palestinian security forces are entering Jenin, but it seems their goal is to clean up civil crime, not to disarm terrorists. The key to understanding this announcement is probably this:

 

The forces, some of whom received U.S.-funded training in Jordan, will focus on capturing criminals, primarily car thieves. As such, the government has issued orders to confiscate any weapons possessed illegally.

In other words, terrorist groups will not be disarmed, or will they? Is this a way of staying patriotic while disarming terrorist groups? Time will tell.

 

 

Last update - 11:02 03/05/2008       
Palestinian forces en route to Jenin for large-scale security op

By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press

 

Hundreds of Palestinian police are heading to the former militant stronghold of Jenin to deploy there as part of the Palestinian government's security plan.

 

The government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is gradually trying to reassert control in West Bank towns. Earlier this year, Palestinian forces deployed in the city of Nablus.

 

Some 480 Palestinian police prepared to deploy in Jenin on Saturday. Their commander Suleiman Amran says it's an important day for the town and that there's "no chance for troublemakers to return to Jenin."
 
A senior Palestinian official said the operation will encompass close to 50 villages, and is scheduled to last three months. The forces, some of whom received U.S.-funded training in Jordan, will focus on capturing criminals, primarily car thieves. As such, the government has issued orders to confiscate any weapons possessed illegally.

 

Israel has welcomed the Palestinian efforts, but continues to conduct frequent arrest raids in the West Bank. Palestinian officials have complained that such raids undermine their security plan.