Israeli security official slams Dahlan

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 26 (UPI) -- The head of Israel's Shabak security agency said Tuesday that Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Muhammad Dahlan is preventing significant moves against Hamas.

Shabak chief Yuval Diskin alleged that Dahlan, "Is a disruptive force, and he is taking advantage of the fact that Israeli politicians and senior members of the upper echelon of Israel's leadership want to remain in close contact with him," Ynet reported.

Appearing before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Diskin predicted Hamas would have an interest in easing tensions in the Gaza Strip after Israel completes its withdrawal there but that it would escalate violence in the West Bank.

Dahlan Tuesday met Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and the two agreed to form two joint working teams. One should improve the crossing points between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the short run and the other should consider a more fundamental change allowing door-to-door deliveries rather than back-to-back -- from one truck to another -- at the crossing points, an Israeli defense official said.