By Prensa Latina,
Ramallah : The National Palestine Authority (NPA) deployed 585 security agents today in the city of Hebron as part of a plan to reinforce control over the West Riverbank, decision criticized by Islamic group Hamas.
The military armed with high caliber weapons were transported in different military vehicles to the mentioned city, third in the West Bank where a security system approved by president of the NPA, Mahmoud Abbas, prevails.
Ramallah authorities explained the contingent was placed in the early hours of today and soon after street patrols began marching through this city, considered bastion of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) followers.
In statements to local media, the head of the Palestine security in that city, Sabih Seifi, said to be determined to “impose order” and assured they will persecute both criminals and militants of the resistance groups.
The deployment of Palestine forces in that occupied territory CAME about after the authorization given on Wednesday by the chiefs of Israelí troops for patrols, with the exception of settlements controled by Jewish occupiers.
Officials of the NPA had asked permission to deploy hundreds of policemen in Hebron for one month in order to increase two over two thousand the number of military loyal to Abbas, responsible for maintaining stability in the territory.
For his part, Hamas, who deprived its rival Al-Fatah of power in the Gaza strip in June, 2007, considered the police reinforcement a step satisfying Israel and its ally, the United States.
Hamas speaker Fawzi Barhoum assessed the deployment permit as “a reward (to Abbas) for fighting the Palestinian armed resistance against Israeli occupation in the West Bank” and
“part of the dangerous collaboration in security between israel and the NPA.”
A communique given to the press by Barhoum affirms it is “the implementation of the security plan to protect occupation and part of the project of the NPA to put an end to Hamas and other armed groups presence who resist occupation.”
Analysts indicated that the measure taken by the Palestinian government could frustrate the summoning of a meeting in November intended to reconcile that people, above all, Hamas and Al-Fatah.