Arab committee to supervise Palestinian security apparatus

Fatah and Hamas take the first steps to implement their reconcialation agreement with the setting up of a body to pave the way for a new security force

Saleh Naami , Thursday 5 May 2011

Palestinians hold up flags as they celebrate the planned signing of a reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Nablus (Photo: AP)

High profile security officials from six Arab countries will visit Gaza this week to oversee the implementation of security arrangements covered by the reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas.

The security officials are members of a committee formed by Egypt and headed by the Egyptian deputy intelligence chief to help the Palestinians new government build a professional security apparatus that is “only loyal to the Palestinian national interest not Fatah or Hamas,” according to a Palestinian official who spoke to the Sama news website.

“The top priority for this committee is to build a professional police apparatus in the coming months,” the official explained.

He added that the selection process for the force's leadership will be along a professional basis, not partisan affiliations.

“The Egyptian intelligence have designated a timetable and security plan to implement the agreement, in order to avoid the mistakes of the previous agreements."

In the meantime, a Hamas official on Thursday revealed that security forces in the West Bank arrested one of the movement's leaders and summoned another 20 for interrogation. The official added that closing the chapter on political detainees between Fatah and Hamas is crucial for the reconciliation agreement to succeed.

“Solving the detainees’ problem would build bridges of trust between all the factions, so we insist on Hamas movement on the immediate release of the political detainees,” said Salah Al-Bardawill, a senior Hamas official.

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