Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

US criticises Palestinian performance on security | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Palestinian Authority”s performance on security has been &#34far from satisfactory,&#34 a senior State Department officials said, while underscoring the &#34very real challenges&#34 facing the Palestinian leadership.

&#34The events of the past few days undersore the very real challenges facing the Palestinian Authority as it takes on new responsibilities for governance. First and foremost is the task of security,&#34 David Welch, assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, told a Congressional hearing.

&#34Although President Mahmud Abbas has taken some steps to assert control, overall Palestinian Authority performance to date has been far from satisfactory,&#34 he said.

&#34The PA must move quickly to establish order and take steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terror. Regional states such as Syria and Iran must cease their support for extremist Palestinian organizations which stand in the way of peace. And progress must continue on the critical task of reforming the PA security services under a unified, civilian command,&#34 he said.

The diplomat stressed the importance of Palestinian economic development in the eyes of the so-called international &#34quartet&#34 — the European Union, United States, Russia and the United Nations — seeking to broker Middle East peace.

&#34All these matters must be addressed of course with careful attention to the balance that must be struck between freeing up the Palestinian economy and addressing Israel”s legitimate security needs,&#34 he said.

Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei acknowledged Tuesday that the security situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip &#34is very serious.&#34

&#34As long as I am prime minister I assume full responsibility although my job does not give me direct security control,&#34 he said, less than a week before MPs are to debate and vote on a no-confidence motion blaming him and his administration for failing to adequately counter the chaos gripping parts of the Palestinian territories.