Palestinian Tensions Delay Interior Minister Appointment

[QuietStorm]

4 hours ago

RAMALLAH, West Bank, August 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Differences between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas rose up Sunday, August24 , over the authority a proposed Interior Minister is to enjoy if appointed to take up the post now occupied by Abbas.

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The Palestinian Premier favors disarming factions and preventing them from carrying any retaliatory attacks against Israel.

He fears any attacks by the factions would nip in the bud political solutions that have been put forward to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including U.S.-backed roadmap, said the sources.

Arafat, on the other hand, takes into consideration Palestinians’ fury over the Israeli aggressions.

The Palestinian leader, who was elected in a 1996 public elections, is averting a confrontation with his people, especially that the majority of Palestinians maintained that resistance groups should remain armed until the Israeli occupation of their land is brought to an end.

Arafat and Abbas agreed to the appointment of the Interior Minister under an Egyptian mediation Friday, August22 , but the Palestinian leader’s rejection to cede control of security bodies to the new official sparked off tensions among Fatah central committee and delayed the appointment.

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http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-08/24/article11.shtml