Since Tuesday evening the Israeli media has been distributing reports about a severe rift between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Preventive Security Service Chief Jibril Rajoub. Palestinian officials, however, deny these reports claiming them to be “Israeli propoganda”.
According to the Israeli reports, “Palestinian sources in Ramallah” said that a serious argument had erupted Monday between Yasser Arafat and Rajoub. Arafat slapped Rajoub, cursed him and pointed his pistol at him, while repeatedly screaming: "He [Rajoub] wants to replace me." The incident occured at Arafat's compound in Ramallah, reported Haaretz daily.
According to Israeli media reports, sources close to Rajoub said that Rajoub, in turn, criticized Arafat over his leadership style - a move that greatly angered the Palestinian leader.
Sources attribute various reasons for the disagreement between the two.
Perhaps, Arafat may be blaming Rajoub mainly for failing to prevent the escape of prisoners from Hebron on Monday night.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rajoub's forces in Hebron re-arrested two Hamas members who escaped from jail on Monday night when local residents freed an estimated 60 prisoners, including 15 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Israel Radio reported previously.
President Arafat may also be angered about the publicizing of the dismantling of the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Fatah's military wing. The Fatah movement denied reports in the Saudi Al Watan newspaper that it had bowed to US and Israeli pressure and had dismantled its Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and the Return Brigade.
In circulars given out in the West Bank on Sunday and Monday, Fatah claimed that it did not dismantle the groups, since it never had formally formed them. Fatah sources said that local activists who operate underground had formed the brigades. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
