WEST BANK: Hundreds of security men are deployed in the city of Hebron, in an effort to bolster Palestinian control of the West Bank
Record ID:
562451
WEST BANK: Hundreds of security men are deployed in the city of Hebron, in an effort to bolster Palestinian control of the West Bank
- Title: WEST BANK: Hundreds of security men are deployed in the city of Hebron, in an effort to bolster Palestinian control of the West Bank
- Date: 25th October 2008
- Summary: (BN07) HEBRON, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 25, 2008) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PALESTINIAN SECURITY CHIEF FOR THE HEBRON DISTRICT AREA SAMIH AL-SAIFI WELCOMING HUNDREDS OF SECURITY FORCES TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE HEBRON DISTRICT VARIOUS OF WELCOMING CEREMONY PRESIDENTIAL GUARD DRIVING VEHICLE VARIOUS OF PRESIDENTIAL GUARD SECURITY ARRIVING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND VARIOUS OF NEW SECURITY FORCES WALKING INSIDE PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND AL-SAIFI TALKING TO VARIOUS SECURITY FORCES PRESIDENTIAL GUARD STANDING MORE OF NEW PRESIDENTIAL GUARD FORCES ARRIVING AL-SAIFI DURING SPEAKING TO PRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAMIH AL-SAIFI, HEBRON SECURITY CHIEF, SAYING: "We are serious and determined to arrest all of those outside the law. And after this campaign is through, we will not allow any unlawful act to take place, and this begins with the illegal armed groups, and I assure you of this. Also anyone carrying illegal weapons. All those wanted by the law, whether they are drug and arms dealers, we will not give them any chance to escape from justice." VARIOUS OF NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES ARRIVING TO HEBRON SIGN READING "THE SECOND SPECIAL UNIT FORCE" VARIOUS OF NEW SECURITY FORCES ARRIVING WITH THEIR BELONGINGS TO HEBRON VARIOUS OF NEW SECURITY FORCES CARRYING THEIR BELONGING AND WALKING TOWARDS THE SECURITY FORCE DORMITORIES VARIOUS OF SECURITY FORCES BEING WELCOMED BY COLLEAGUES VARIOUS OF SECURITY FORCES' DORMS VARIOUS OF SECURITY FORCES UNIT IN STREET
- Embargoed: 9th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA928DSKN04AN1PSRX6ANZ360YI
- Story Text: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas deployed hundreds of security officers in Hebron early on Saturday (October 25) as part of a Western-backed campaign to strengthen his control over the occupied West Bank.
Israel, which is trying to bolster Abbas against his Hamas rivals, approved the deployment of some 550 armed officers to Hebron, the biggest West Bank city and a frequent flashpoint between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.
"We are serious and determined to arrest all of those outside the law. And after this campaign is through, we will not allow any unlawful act to take place, and this begins with the illegal armed groups, and I assure you of this. " said Samih al-Saifi, the Palestinian security chief for the Hebron area.
Abbas is under pressure to assert control in the West Bank so U.S.-sponsored talks with Israel can progress. Abbas's administration complains that continued Israeli raids against suspected Palestinian militants undermine his credibility.
Hamas Islamists seized the Gaza Strip after routing Abbas's forces in 2007. Abbas then sacked a Hamas-led government and appointed a new administration in the West Bank where his Fatah faction remains dominant.
An Israeli security source said the Abbas's deployment was coordinated with the Israeli army and that the Palestinian force will not be allowed to intervene in the Jewish areas of Hebron.
"They are meant to police the community and strengthen the Palestinian Authority's ability to fight Hamas," the security source said in a telephone conversation with Reuters.
Some 650 heavily guarded Jewish settlers live in Hebron among about 30,000 Palestinians. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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