IDF to mull 150 PA soldiers in Hebron

Force would be deployed to give Abbas edge over Hamas if PA president decides to extend his term.

By YAAKOV KATZ
PA policemen 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
PA policemen 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
In an effort to bolster Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas as he nears the end of his presidential term, the IDF will meet this week with Palestinian security chiefs in the Hebron area to finalize plans for the deployment of 150 Palestinian Authority soldiers in the city. Abbas is scheduled to finish his term as president on January 9, 2009 and in the absence of new elections - due to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip - Abbas, according to the PA constitution, will be replaced by the speaker of the PA parliament, Abdel Aziz Dweik, a senior Hamas official currently in an Israeli prison. Abbas, however, is not expected to step down from his post and is looking for ways to extend his term. The IDF and the PA are concerned that Abbas's refusal to hand over the reins could set off violent clashes in the West Bank between Fatah and Hamas. As a result, OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni has agreed to allow a platoon of 150 Palestinian soldiers to deploy in Hebron, where they will be used by the PA to crack down on Hamas operatives and infrastructure in the city, known for its strong Hamas presence. Defense Ministry officials had initially opposed the deployment in Hebron, out of fear that the presence of armed Palestinian soldiers would escalate tensions with the Jewish settlers in the city. Palestinian assurances that the soldiers will not patrol areas near the Jewish community paved the way for Shamni's approval. Col. Udi Ben-Muha, commander of the Judean Brigade, which is responsible for security in Hebron, is expected to meet this week with local Palestinian security commanders to coordinate the planned deployment. The request to deploy soldiers in Hebron was made by Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayad and is based on the "Jenin model," under which Palestinian troops deployed in large numbers in the city earlier this year and the IDF scaled back its operations in the vicinity. In addition, Israel eased travel restrictions in northern Samaria and has started allowing Israeli Arabs to visit Jenin in an effort to rehabilitate its weakened economy. If the Jenin and Hebron programs continue to produce results, the Defense Ministry may expand the program to Tulkarm. On Thursday, 500 PA soldiers crossed over the Allenby Bridge into Jordan for US-funded military training. While officials in the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) claimed that terrorists were still present in the city, the number of terror warnings in Jenin have dropped drastically in recent weeks and the officials admitted that the PA forces are doing a relatively effective job in cracking down on Hamas institutions.