| The Palestinian Authority has suspended plans to retire security officers. PA sources said Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has decided to delay plans to retire about 1,000 security officers. The sources said Abbas made the decision after he was told that the PA did not have the funds to pay pensions to the departing officers. In April, Abbas ordered the retirement of 1,000 officers over age 65. The PA set 65 as the age of mandatory retirement and Abbas dismissed several leading commanders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in early May. The sources said about 20 officers were dismissed under the new retirement policy. The rest of the overage officers would remain until the PA received funds to pay for their pensions. |