Palestinian Authority security officials arrested 30 common criminals in a high profile series of arrests in the West Bank town of Yatta Friday. The arrested men were reportedly car thieves and drug dealers according to published reports.
The PA is trying to restore order to the areas presently under its control. However, even as the criminal sweep was being carried out, three local Hamas leaders were kidnapped elsewhere in PA controlled territory. Hamas held the PA responsible for the three men who were kidnapped in the towns of Tulkarem, Bethlehem and Hebron. One of the three was released later on Friday.
The kidnapping of the three Hamas leaders may have been retaliation for the abduction of a PA intelligence officer Thursday. The man was kidnapped at gunpoint by Hamas gunmen while in his car in Gaza City. He was later shot in the leg and released.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his ruling Fatah Party have been criticized for failing to maintain order in the Gaza Strip and other PA controlled areas. One problem is that Abbas has proven either unwilling or unable to confront and disarm armed members of terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hamas gunmen have often challenged the authority of PA police, especially in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, PA police officials say today's crackdown is just the beginning. 'This campaign was ordered by political leaders to enforce law and order and to bring justice to normal Palestinians and make the Palestinian people feel safe,' explained local police chief Ahmed Rabai. Rabai also said additional raids would take place in other area villages in the near future.
Meanwhile, top PA negotiator Saeb Erekat met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's top advisor Dov Weisglass to prepare for next week's expected meeting between the two leaders. Erekat said progress was made during the meeting.
On Thursday, Abbas said he would press Sharon to honor past agreements to withdraw from additional West Bank towns. Israel had promised to turn over control of five West Bank towns to the PA after Februrary's summit between the two leaders in Egypt. The first two towns were turned over but when terrorist attacks took place, additional towns were not turned over to the PA.
Prime Minister Sharon will continue to press Abbas and the PA to crack down on and confront Hamas and other militant groups that have continued to attack Israeli civilians.
