RAMALLAH, West Bank, 16 July 2007 — Dozens of wanted Fatah gunmen in the West Bank have turned in their weapons to the Palestinian Authority, under an arrangement in which Israel will grant them effective amnesty as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They also signed a document that announced their resignation from the Fatah’s armed wing — Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. They pledged to refrain from military attacks against Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signed the deal Saturday evening as Israel pushed ahead with efforts to galvanize Abbas after his Fatah faction’s defeat at the hands of Hamas in Gaza last month.
The prime minister’s office confirmed yesterday that the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander in Jenin, Zakariya Az-Zubeidi, was on the list.
Aware that Israel would scrap the deal if the gunmen did not disarm, Abbas was trying to lure renegade activists by offering to buy their weapons. Palestinian officials said the Palestinian Authority would pay gunmen up to $14,000 for an M-16 rifle and $3,500 for a Kalashnikov. Smaller guns will be purchased for up to $5,700.
Under the deal, the Palestinian Authority will integrate dozens of wanted Fatah gunmen into its security forces. Israel reserves the right to pursue those whom it suspects of indulging in military activities.
However, Zubeidi believes the deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that grants amnesty to 180 Fatah wanted gunmen offers the Jewish state what may be “the last chance to turn a new page with the Palestinians.” Zubeidi, who is accused by Israel of masterminding a string of military attacks and escaped a number of assassination attempts by Israeli forces, says that despite the amnesty deal he will remain vigilant because “it is hard to trust the Israelis.”
“They all say we will have a trial period of three months in this deal, but I say it is the Israelis who are on trial. They have to prove that their approach will be different this time. We need to remember that we are talking about an amnesty for wanted suspects and not about transferring the control of security to the Palestinian Authority. So long as this is the case I won’t change,” said the Fatah activist.
Zubeidi confirmed that some wanted gunmen, who are also members of the Palestinian security forces, have started to hand over their arms.
Abu Obeida, a Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, harshly criticized Fatah for the amnesty deal, saying it would harm Palestinian “resistance” and allow Israel to focus on Hamas militants.
Meanwhile, Israel said it will allow the exiled Palestinian leader Nawef Hawatmeh, responsible for an attack on an Israeli school more than 30 years ago, to attend a meeting in the West Bank summoned by Abbas.
Olmert’s office said the Damascus-based Hawatmeh will be allowed to stay in the West Bank only for a few days.
