Issue No. 594
Opinion
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11 - 17 July 2002 Issue No. 594 Opinion |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Selective reform
Yasser Arafat's decision to dismiss three PA security officials has led to speculation and discontent both within Palestine and beyond. Could this be the first sign of the security "reforms" demanded by Israel and Washington?The three leaders dismissed are: the head of protective security in the West Bank, Jibril Al-Rajoub; the head of police in Gaza, Ghazi Al-Jibali; and the head of civil defence in Gaza, Mahmoud Abu Marzouq. Each has a reputation for corruption and power abuse and commands a terrifying locus of power, making them, in effect, war lords. The officials given their jobs have so far refrained from taking up their positions out of fear.
What distinguishes them from others who remain in power, though, is not so much the levels of corruption or their relations with the Israeli authorities as the fact that their political power base rivals Arafat's own. Abu Marzouq, for example, the brother of one of Hamas's political office members, refused to implement one of Arafat's decisions five years ago, while Al-Rajoub is the Israelis' leading candidate for the position of PA president.
The dismissals are likely to result in logistical problems with those who were once under the command of the dismissed leaders refusing to obey the commands of the newly appointed replacements. But the most pressing question remains whether Arafat will rest content with his present position or require further "reforms".
This week's Soapbox speaker is a Cairo-based Palestinian activist
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