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Palestinian Criminal Gangs on the PA Payroll

(Reuters) Mark Heinrich - Distinctions between nationalist militant and criminal gang activities have blurred as Fatah has splintered into armed groups, many spun off from Palestinian security services. A regional Fatah official said 90% of gang lawlessness could be traced to people still on a PA payroll. Some of the 32 people shot dead recently in the Palestinian city of Nablus fell in feuds over flourishing rackets in stolen cars, drugs, and extortion. Some were "collaborators," said to have steered Israeli forces toward wanted militants. But the majority have been cases of mistaken identity or people caught in the middle of fighting between rival gangs. Gunmen have also taken to shooting at the legs of those they accuse of "bad behavior" - from profiteering in PA posts to making advances to women in public in this conservative Muslim society. No one has been arrested or prosecuted.
2004-02-04 00:00:00
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