Arafat issues decree merging security apparatuses into three

According to Abu Rudeineh, the presidential decree stipulates the unification of police and security services into three apparatuses which are the general security services, the police services and the general intelligence services.

The decree also instructs appointing Mussa Arafat as director of general security and national security in addition to keeping his current position as head of the military intelligence services, Abu Rudeineh said, adding that Saeb El-Ajez was appointed as chief of the Palestinian police in the Gaza Strip and West Bank to replace Ghazi Jabali.

The presidential decree was issued in the wake of the abduction of Jabali and Khaled Abu el-Olla, head of the Palestinian liaison office in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The two men were releasedlater on condition that they resign from their posts.Meanwhile, Abu Rudeineh stated that Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei had already presented his resignation to Arafat, but Arafat rejected the resignation and asked Qurei to keep his position at these "crucial times."

"Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei has a viewpoint towards Israel's and the US administration's reluctance to make any achievements regarding the peace process and their opposition to demolishing the Israeli separation wall, the matter that pushed the Palestinian cabinet into a dead end," Abu Rudeineh stated.

Arafat's top aide also revealed that other changes regarding the security apparatuses are expected soon, saying the crises within the Palestinian territories will remain as long as the Israeli occupation lasts.

Abu Rudeineh held Israel responsible for the ongoing events in the territories, saying "we are facing a fierce conspiracy that involves many sides in the region."

He also called on the Quartet committee to put an end to the Israeli military aggressions in order to give Palestinians a chance to re-organize its security and political issues."We call on everybody to assume their responsibilities," he claimed.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/17/content_1610308.htm