Zionist Organisation of America Press Release, April 13, 2000
Just days before Yasir Arafat is scheduled to meet with
President Clinton in Washington, Israel’s largest newspaper has revealed
that the Palestinian Authority police force is undergoing training that
will transform it into a full-fledged army. The Zionist Organization of
America (ZOA) is urging President Clinton to demand that Arafat immediately
cease the military training.
Yediot Ahronot reports (April 11, 2000) that “police brigades
including thousands of policemen are operating in Gaza today, which can be
expanded to a division of some 12,000 men…they are armed with, among
other things, dozens of RPG anti-tank launchers in violation of the terms
of the Oslo agreements.”
The PA police recently “held a series of
exercises in battalion configuration” and “carried out an exercise which
simulated movement of armored forces, using the light armored vehicles held
by the Palestinian police…A number of Gazan police commanders recently
completed battalion commander courses abroad.”
Senior Arafat adviser Hanai Al Hassan said: “We have 43,000 rifles
now, and if Israel continues to ignore our rights, we will know what to do.”
Explaining what he means by “our rights,” Hassan then demanded that
Israel surrender all of Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and Jerusalem to the PA, and
permit millions of Arab “refugees” to settle in Israel. (Middle East
Newsline, March 17, 2000)
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “Imagine if Ehud
Barak were to threaten to use Israel’s weapons against the Palestinian
Authority if the PA fails to accept all of Israel’s demands. Israel would
be condemned by the Clinton administration, the United Nations, and the
rest of the international community.
Why is the world silent in the face of these Palestinian Arab threats,
which belie the Palestinian Authority’s claim to be interested in peace?”
Last year, Yediot Ahronot reported (August 31, 1999) that “the
Palestinian naval commando unit purchased military equipment in Europe,
Russia, and China, which was smuggled into the Gaza Strip through Egypt,
using tunnels constructed under the Rafiah border area… The base for the
PA naval unit is located on the coast, north of the Shati refugee camp.
The Oslo accords, which regulate the scope of Palestinian forces, permit
the PA to maintain a small naval force of ten patrol boats, similar to the
coast guard operated by the Israel Police. The activities permitted to the
naval force include prevention of smuggling and infiltration, and
supervising fishing off the Gaza coast. The Oslo agreements do not permit
the operation of offensive forces.”
Yediot also revealed that in July 1999, two PA frogmen in the unit were killed
in a training accident during which they were attaching explosive mines to ships.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said: “Arafat’s action
violations both the spirit and letter of the Oslo accords. If Arafat has
sincerely forsaken violence and wants to live in peace with Israel, why is
he turning his police force into a full-fledged army? As a sponsor of the
Oslo accords, and as the donor of $100-million annually to the Palestinian
Arabs, the Clinton administration should demand that Arafat cease his
warlike behavior.”
The Yediot report about the PA police is the latest in a series of
indications that the PA is preparing for war against Israel. For a
detailed list, please call the ZOA at 212-481-1500.
