RAMALLAH: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday sacked the head of Palestinian general intelligence agency, Tawfiq Al-Tirawi, who has been working since last year to prevent Hamas from extending its control from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.
Palestinian official sources said that Abbas held a meeting with Tirawi in his Ramallah’s presidential compound, Al-Moqata’a, and informed him of the decision.
The sources added that the decision is to nominate Tirawi as a security adviser for Abbas, adding that Tirawi was also nominated as chief of the Palestinian Security Academy based in Jericho.
“Abbas and Tirawi met and agreed on the issue. Tirawi wasn’t surprised and was not angry. He knew in advance that he has reached the pension age and he would leave the post soon,” said a source.
However, according to the source, Tirawi argued with Abbas over who will be his successor, insisting that his successor should be one of his senior intelligence officials.
Abbas’ decision came following reports according to which Hamas had demanded that the Palestinian president dismiss his top security commanders in the West Bank to pave the way for the success of Egyptian efforts to end the Hamas-Fatah power struggle.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres’ office said yesterday that he will discuss an Arab proposal for comprehensive Mideast peace when he meets with Egypt’s leader this week.
Peres has recently been promoting the Saudi initiative because Israel’s separate peace talks with Syria and the Palestinians appear to be making little progress. Peres spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch confirmed the Arab peace plan would “come up” when he meets President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt today.
Saudi Arabia first proposed the peace initiative in 2002. It offers pan-Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from Arab lands captured in 1967. The 22-member Arab League has since endorsed the plan.
