RAMALLAH: Israel is considering allowing the Palestinian Authority to establish a specially trained counter-terror squad qualified to carry out pinpoint operations against Hamas military cells in the West Bank, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported on Friday.
The report said that such a force would be able to carry out special operations against Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s military infrastructure in the West Bank more effectively than could the existing Palestinian security forces. France has already offered to train such a team, according to the report.
The decision to consider the establishment of such a team was made following the Palestinian Authority’s operation against a Hamas cell in West Bank city of Qalqilyah last month, during which five Hamas fighters and four members of the Palestinian security force were killed.
The four Palestinian battalions trained by the United States in Jordan and already deployed in the West Bank were taught how to enforce law and order and conduct regular police-like operations, but were not given military training. Their equipment consists of pistols and Kalashnikov rifles, and the content of their training is approved by Israel.
The Israeli Army is therefore considering allowing the establishment of a small, elite Palestinian squad that would be capable of conducting operations like the one in Qalqilyah more effectively and with fewer casualties.
