GAZA CITY, 28 January 2005 — The Palestinian Authority yesterday banned civilians from carrying weapons as Palestinian security forces started deploying in volatile southern Gaza. The Palestinian leadership also indicated it would appoint a new interior minister known for his hard-line stance against fighters.
The moves came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a newspaper interview he was satisfied with efforts by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to restore calm and pledged to pursue peace with him. Addressing a business gathering later, Sharon said he believed conditions were right for “a historic breakthrough” with the Palestinians.
Palestinian Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat said in Ramallah that Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei issued orders forbidding anyone but members of the security services from carrying weapons.
The order came in the form of a special decree signed by Qorei who is president of the National Security Council, Erekat added without giving details on what action would be taken against anyone violating the order.
Abbas and Qorei have both pledged to put an end to the “armed chaos” on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Residents are in theory forbidden from carrying weapons in the West Bank where Israeli troops are under orders to open fire at any armed Palestinian. However West Bank cities such as Nablus and large parts of the Gaza Strip have been plagued by the rule of the gunmen in recent months and are often no-go areas for most people after dark.
Israeli security officers said Palestinian police began deploying in south Gaza in the evening. The deployment was set for yesterday morning but was delayed for technical reasons.
The mission of the police is to stop clashes between Palestinian hard-liners and Israeli forces, as well as rocket and mortar attacks on Jewish settlements.
In the Yediot Ahronot interview, Sharon said: “There is no doubt that Abu Mazen (Abbas) has begun to work. I am very satisfied with what I hear is happening on the Palestinian side, and I have a serious interest in advancing the process with him.”
Abbas, speaking after talks with US envoy William Burns, urged Israel to agree quickly to a cease-fire with Palestinian fighters and said he was looking forward to holding a still unscheduled summit with Sharon.
Although there was no official response to Abbas’ appeal from Israel, Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan said Tel Aviv had agreed in principle to stop pursuing fighters and halt targeted killings. He said the Israeli assurance came in a meeting a day earlier between senior Palestinian and Israeli officials. Dahlan, a senior adviser to Abbas, participated in the meeting.
Israel has said it would respond to “quiet with quiet.”
Abbas, elected president on Jan. 9 on a platform of ending more than four years of bloodshed, has been pursuing a truce deal with Hamas and other militant groups. Violence has dropped sharply in Gaza, raising hopes peacemaking can be revived.
A Palestinian official said Israel had already agreed to free 900 of some 7,000 Palestinians it is holding.
— Additional input from agencies
