Palestinian security forces took up positions across the northern Gaza Strip with orders to prevent attacks by militants, winning plaudits for new leader Mahmud Abbas from Israel. As Abbas continued his efforts to persuade militant factions to call a halt to violence, hundreds of police and members of other security services deployed in areas that have been both the launch pad and scene of attacks. Armed members of the national security force inspected vehicles at checkpoints set up by the main Erez border crossing between Israel and Gaza in the north and by the Karni border terminal further south, an AFP correspondent reported.Israel temporarily severed contacts with the Palestinian Authority a week ago in the aftermath of a suicide attack at Karni which killed six Israelis, an event that cast a huge shadow over Abbas's inauguration on Saturday. However, contacts were resumed on the security level last Wednesday, leading to an agreement for around 2,500 security forces to be deployed across the territory. Large numbers of jeeps containing security forces in dark blue uniforms and red berets could be seen on patrol throughout the north on Friday. A statement from Abbas' office said that while the first batch of forces were being sent to northern Gaza, more would fan out across the territory over the weekend. Security officials have said that anyone suspected of trying to carry out an attack against Israel will be arrested, although Abbas has vowed to avoid any descent into "civil war."
| Wonder where they got the colored guy? He doesn't look Paleostinian to me... |