An interesting development just occurred in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Haaretz:
Israeli and Palestinian officers met at the Erez crossing last night to coordinate the Palestinian troops’ deployment to halt the Qassam rocket fire at Israeli targets.
Hundreds of Palestinian police are preparing to take up positions in the areas from where Qassam rockets and mortar shells are fired, following a series of meetings between Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and the heads of the security branches in the Gaza Strip.
A 500 to 700-strong police force was formed at Abu Mazen’s order to take over cities and towns in the Strip located close to the launching sites. “In two days they will take up position and prevent violation of the law and any unauthorized military activity in the area,” said chief of General Security, General Abdel Razak Majida.
Yesterday for the first time in a week, no Qassam rockets were fired at Sderot.
What does this mean? It’s hard to tell yet. But even this much is unlikely to have happened under Arafat. Debka, not surprisingly, has a more cynical view:
Israeli and Palestinian Gaza sector security chiefs meet Wednesday night for first time in months. Israeli general Cochavi will stress to Mussa Arafat need for Palestinian constraints to avert Israeli operation.
DEBKAfile adds: No real action expected from Mussa Arafat, including Palestinian security deployment on Gaza-Israeli borders. He does not accept Abbas’ authority – only that of PM Qureia, who has left country to avoid ordering security services under his control to halt terror.
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