(World Tribune) The Palestinian Authority, alarmed by a decline in discipline, has been examining the introduction of Islamic doctrine in the security forces. PA sources said security chiefs were discussing the prospect of bringing in Muslim clerics to indoctrinate the 25,000 members of the security forces. The biggest concern was that Western donors would object to the Islamization program. The discipline problem was said to stem from the replacement of hundreds of commanders over the last two years. The officers, most of them who had reached retirement age, have been replaced by men in their 30s and 40s, often younger than their troops. The model for the Islamization proposal has been the Hamas regime in Gaza, where security forces have undergone extensive Islamic indoctrination to ensure loyalty. Sources said the decline in discipline has been exacerbated by poor morale in many units, where PA officers were disappointed with poor salaries and benefits.
2010-11-03 10:27:22Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive