GAZA, May 17 (UPI) -- The Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas-led government are apparently heading towards a clash over security issues.
Interior Minister Said Siyam announced Wednesday the activation of a special security force comprising members from the various Palestinian factions, a move which Fatah blasted as illegal, recognizing only the Palestinian Authority's official security agencies.
Siyam justified the move by saying, "in view of the procrastination of the security agencies and their resistance to implement orders despite exacerbating insecurity and disorder, such as the raid on the offices of the mobile company operator, the kidnapping of an engineer and the assassination of Hamas members, we have decided to activate the force for restoring order in Gaza Strip."
Siyam denied that the creation of the force contradicted the law, "since it will be directly controlled and affiliated with the Interior Ministry."
He slammed what he called "the gangs working within the framework of a clear conspiracy aimed at inciting inter-Palestinian conflict and portraying the government as being incapable of assuming its mission."
He said the 3,000-man special force is well-trained and ready to assume its security responsibilities immediately.
Fatah reacted violently to the move, which it said is dangerous and may lead to internal strife.
Fatah spokesman Toufik Abu Khousa said: "This announcement is not acceptable in light of the dangerous developments which the government has failed to deal with in a proper way, such as the attacks on security officers and Fatah members."
He rejected Siyam's accusations about the incapacity of the PA's security agencies, saying "there is no unsuccessful soldier, but an incapable commander," in allusion to Siyam.
"This new force is an outlawed force aimed to cover the failure of the interior minister and the security agencies in ending the state of disorder," Abu Khousa said.
