Confirming a previous report by Albawaba.com, Palestinian officials announced that President Arafat had started the implementation of a plan he prepared to reform the Palestinian Authority. The plan will include major changes in the governmental and security agencies but the announcement was postponed due to the Israeli delay in lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinian leader.
The Palestinian president advisor Mohammed Rashid confirmed that Arafat has already formed two separate establishments other than the PA establishments in order to make the preparations for a referendum on the possible changes to be made in the Palestinian system and policy.
According to Rashid’s statements cited by the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot, “these two establishments will begin before anything else to relieve and alleviate the Palestinian suffering.”
For his part the Palestinian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nabil Amr was cited by Reuters as saying, “the Palestinian leadership is embarking on extensive reforms to be implemented within the Palestinian government immediately after the crisis at Arafat’s headquarters comes to an end.”
Earlier, the Palestinian parliamentarian representing Jerusalem, Hatem Abdel Qader told Albawaba.com, “Arafat’s plan includes a number of resolutions about big changes which will involve a number of security services leaders and ministers.”
He added, “these changes will come in light of the deterioration in performance within some ministries, departments and security agencies, which surfaced and became clear after the Israeli aggression.”
“The changes will primarily aim at restructuring the Palestinian “House” from inside through forming a broad based government including all the Palestinian political spectrum and high caliber persons away from favoritism,” said Abdel Qader
In the same context, Arafat’s advisor Ahmed Tibi told Albawaba.com Wednesday, “Arafat is going ahead with what he considers urgent need for rebuilding the Palestinian establishments through putting the right man in the right place.” At the same time, Tibi declined to talk about any details but he confirmed that Arafat is convinced with this need and aware of its importance.
More than a Palestinian official noted that the announcement of the plan was postponed in light of the Israeli delay in lifting the siege on Arafat’s headquarters which means that the plan would be immediately announced after Israel withdraws its forces from the surroundings of the Arafat’s headquarters.
Palestinian negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, reiterated that attention should be focussed now on the urgent and major issues such as the massacres and the refusal by Israel of the fact-finding mission. “The talk about Palestinian internal affairs now distracts the attention focussed on Major issues,” said Erekat.
Meanwhile, the Islamic resistance movement (Hamas), welcomed the plan and expressed its hope that the changes it will bring would be different from the previous changes which failed short of the Palestinian people aspirations.
Hamas was most critical of the PA agencies particularly the preventive security agency, describing its commander Jibril Rajoub as “betrayer” following what it alleged his collaboration with Israel in facilitating the arrest of Palestinian Islamist activists by the Israelis.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Mahmoud al Zahhar told Albawaba.com, “the Palestinian Authority is required not only to dismiss Rajoub but also to bring him before the court for his disgusting actions.” (Albawaba.com)
