(Ha'aretz) - Aluf Benn, Amos Harel, Nathan Guttman, and Arnon Regular Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz confirmed that Israel would hand over authority in Bethlehem to the Palestinians on Wednesday. Shin Bet secret service chief Avi Dichter said Tuesday that the PA must begin disarming terror organizations in the Gaza Strip within two or three weeks, or Israel will freeze further handovers of security authority. "Hamas has no chance in a direct confrontation with the Fatah, and Hamas knows that better than all of us," Dichter said. PA forces and Fatah commanded at least 10,000 armed men, he said. Yasser Arafat has retained his power, Dichter said, adding that the number of Palestinian security men under Arafat's control was greater than the number under the control of Abu Mazen.
2003-07-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive