WEST BANK/GAZA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas outlaws Hamas security force following surge in internal fighting

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas arrived to the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday (January 6) to attend the Eastern Greek Orthodox celebration of Christmas eve and midnight mass. Abbas's visit to Bethlehem comes after a statement was issued form the Presidents office declaring Hamas executive force as unlegitmate force. This statement comes two days after Abbas and Hanniyeh met to calm the tension between Fatah and Hamas forces within the West bank and Gaza. Abbas's spokesman said the Hamas force would remain illegal until it complied with a previous decision by Abbas to integrate into the established security apparatus. "With regards to the executive force and since we established it, it wasn't an independent force, but we said it must be part of the security forces. To establish any force, it needs a decree and this decree has not been issued until this moment. And who ever says that its an independent force, he is defying the law and the constitution." Abbas told reporters. Earleir today the Interior ministry spokesperson warned of any harm to its forces. Abbas's decision came two days after members of the Hamas force attacked a house of a senior security official from the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Abbas's Fatah faction. The gunmen killed the Colonel and six of his men. Hamas says the Executive Force has nearly 5,500 members and will be expanded. Hamas receives funding from Iran and other Islamist allies. Speaking hours after the announcement, a spokesman for the Hamas force said its numbers would double from nearly 6,000. "The president's office should have worked on calming the situation instead of inciting and making the situation more complicated on the Palestinian arena," spokesman Islam Shahwan said as forces of Hamas were training in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis. Abbas's decision is likely to further fuel tension between Hamas and the moderate president's once-dominant Fatah faction. Internal violence has spiralled since Abbas called for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections after talks with Hamas on forming a unity government failed.

ITN Source | January 7, 2007

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