JERUSALEM, 5 April 2004 — Former Palestinian security chief Mohammad Dahlan said yesterday chaos could ensue in Gaza if the Palestinian Authority failed to prepare for an Israeli pullout. He also called for a restructuring of Palestinian security services to end corruption and waste, and new, younger faces in positions of influence in the Palestinian Authority. But he stressed the veteran leader Arafat, 75, should remain president.
Dahlan said he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to pull settlers and soldiers out of the Gaza Strip “as a first step”, alluding to a Palestinian demand that any such withdrawal be followed by a West Bank pullback. But, he added: “We have to avoid the nightmare scenario whereby there will be chaos and the public would go and destroy evacuated settlements.”
The Palestinian Authority, Dahlan said, had failed so far to make any preparations for an Israeli pullout from Gaza. Sharon is to seek US endorsement of the move during April 14 talks in Washington with President George W. Bush before presenting the issue to a vote by his right-wing Likud party.
“I don’t see any preparation on the part of the Palestinian Authority. If it continues like that, with no plans, there will be chaos after withdrawal,” Dahlan said.
The Palestinian Authority has welcomed Sharon’s plan but said it would have to be done through negotiations with the Palestinians and accompanied by withdrawals from the West Bank to improve peace prospects stalled by constant violence.
Arab diplomats said neighboring Arab states have been pressing Arafat to end the current state of chaos in Palestinian areas, which they fear could spill over into their countries and strengthen militants.
“We want to see a different authority run Gaza Strip. We want to see a new way of administration. We hope it will not be a repetition of the past experience which ran deep into administrative, financial, and security mistakes,” Dahlan said. “We’re not talking about changing Arafat. But there is a need to change all the others.
