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More Paleo skirmishes
Dahlan supporters attack police chief in Gaza, 13 hurt
Supporters of Mohammed Dahlan, the former minister in charge of the Palestinian security service
Supporter of Abu Mazen, fell when Abu Mazen quit
on Thursday attacked Gaza Strip police chief Major General Ghazi al-Jabali and wounded 13 Palestinian policemen and passersby, two of them seriously.
"Couldnt you have just slapped me? "
Jabali, the senior security appointee of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, suffered light injuries.
"Hey, this isnt supposed to happen when you play on Yasserâs side!"
Palestinian sources said the attackers burst into Gazaâs police headquarters, got past Jabaliâs ineffectivebodyguards, and beat him. The attackers then fled the building, with the help of gunmen who fired at Jabaliâs police officers. Several policemen were injured during the exchange of fire and some cars were damaged. Palestinian security sources denied reports that the attack was an assassination attempt, describing it as merely a scuffle that erupted in Jabaliâs office.
"Nothing to see, keep moving"
This was not the first incident between Palestinian security officials and Dahlanâs supporters. Dahlan is careful not to dishonor Arafat,
Like being careful not to dampen the ocean
but at the same time there is a fierce struggle between Dahlan and Arafatâs supporters in Gaza. Three months ago an anti-tank missile was fired at the home of the head of military intelligence, Mussa Arafat, the PA chairmanâs nephew.
sadly, it seems it missed.
Jabali, who is very close to Arafat, was fired by Arafat in the spring of 2002 after being accused of corruption. He was re-appointed two months ago. The return of Jabali, a charismatic figure, is considered a threat to Dahlanâs status in the Strip.
Gaza is Dahlan's old base of support, but also an area of Hamas strength. Arafat is relatively weak there. So any figure who can help him there, like Jabali, is welcome to him. So naturally Dahlan wants to take him out. Why now??? Anything to do with Sharon's offer to depart Gaza?? Perhaps instigating this sort of thing is just what Arik has in mind?
Posted by: liberalhawk 2004-02-05 |
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=25676 |
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