Author:
Publication: World Tribune
Date: June 12, 2003
URL: http://216.26.163.62/2003/me_palestinians_06_12.html
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas has threatened to resign after his failure to prevent an escalation
in the Israeli-Palestinian insurgency war.
Palestinian sources said Abbas has
accused Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat of inciting Hamas
to escalate attacks against Israel in an attempt to undermine the new prime
minister.
"Abbas is not kidding about resigning,"
a Palestinian source said. "He is under great pressure and he doesn't operate
well under pressure."
Abbas has told allies in the Fatah
movement that he has been isolated in his efforts to achieve a ceasefire
in the Israeli-Palestinian war, Middle East Newsline reported. They said
the threat by Abbas to resign has been augmented by warnings that his Cabinet
ministers will walk off their jobs.
Palestinian sources said several
ministers have given Abbas two weeks to assume control of the government
and end Israeli attacks on Palestinians.
Palestinian insurgency groups have
been pressuring Abbas to resign or renounce his offer for a reconciliation
with Israel. The sources said pressure has also come from Arafat's allies
in Fatah for Abbas to quit.
The sources said Abbas has been
lowering his profile amid the escalation in attacks. They said Information
Minister Nabil Amr and Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan have fulfilled
many of Abbas's functions in civilian and security policy.
In contrast, the sources said, Arafat
has increased his profile and has prepared a replacement for Abbas. The
replacement has been identified as Palestinian Legislative Council speaker
Ahmed Qurei.
On Wednesday, Arafat met with Palestinian
insurgency leaders and later called for a ceasefire in cooperation with
the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia.
In Gaza City, Dahlan issued orders
meant to increase police discipline. The orders include a ban on releasing
information to unauthorized individuals or newspapers. Another order prohibits
police officers from taking bribes or other work. Offenders could be penalized
by imprisonment or dismissal.
