Palestinian Puppet President Confronts Hamas
Charles Johnson
Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 8:58 am PDT • Views: 174
In the world’s most inept, transparent game of good cop/bad cop, Abu Mazen issues a statement canceling the Hamas appointment of a terrorist murderer as head of a new “security force:” Abbas Nixes Hamas Security-Force Plans.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - In their sharpest power dispute yet, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday blocked Hamas’ plans to set up a shadow security force, which was to be made up of militants and to be headed by the No. 2 on Israel’s wanted list.
Abbas issued a presidential decree vetoing the decisions made a day earlier by Interior Minister Said Siyam of Hamas. As president, Abbas wields considerable power and has the right to approve or reject key appointments. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas was to meet with his interior minister later Friday to weigh a response.
Siyam’s decision Thursday to set up the new force and appoint Jamal Abu Samhadana as its commander was seen as a major provocation to Abbas, to Israel and to the international community.
Abu Samhadana, 43, was a founding member of a militant group suspected of a deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic convoy and served a year in Palestinian jails for involvement in militant activity.
Frank says: