Palestinians decry Arafat move

Dozens of armed Palestinians, calling for ‘‘real’’ reforms, today stormed the intelligence service office of Palestine A...

Dozens of armed Palestinians, calling for ‘‘real’’ reforms, today stormed the intelligence service office of Palestine Authority (PA) in southern Gaza Strip and released prisoners held there, in protest of chairman Yasser Arafat’s appointment of his cousin as head of security services.

The gunmen opened fire on security and guards inside the complex, smashed furnitures and burnt down the one storey building in the southern Gaza Strip town Khan Yunis, witnesses said, calling it a ‘‘frontal confrontation’’ with Arafat from inside his Fatah Party. The weekend of crisis and chaos in the Palestinian Authority mired in a spate of kidnappings, demonstrations and protests against reforms, prompted Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia to tender his resignation to Chairman Arafat, who refused to accept it today.

‘‘I totally reject your resignation and consider it non-existent,’’ Arafat told Qureia at a meeting in Ramallah. Qureia told his Cabinet yesterday he was firm in his decision to quit. Israel Army radio, quoting associates of Qureia, today said that he did not intend to rescind his resignation, a situation that can further complicate the chaotic situation. The strike purportedly carried by Yasser Arafat’s Fatah Party affiliated armed group, the Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade, followed protests by thousands of Palestinians who took to the streets in Gaza city last night.

Story continues below this ad

The protesters, many of them armed, chanted and carried banners against the reforms of the security organisations decreed by Arafat earlier, notably the nomination of his relative Moussa as the head of the Palestinian security forces.

The nomination of Moussa has sparked an almost unprecedented criticism from officials, seen as a direct challenge to the authority of chairman Arafat. Palestinian Deputy Cabinet Minister, Sufyan Abu Zaida, said Moussa Arafat was considered one of most corrupt officials in the Authority. Palestinians will not accept the nomination, and unrest in Gaza will only grow, Abu Zaida told Army radio. ‘‘This is infuriating,’’ Abu Zaida said. ‘‘This shows disregard for people and their opinions. This is intolerable disregard, and in Gaza, thousands will rise up against this decision.’’

Israeli secret service kills suicide bomber, arrest 3

		• JERUSALEM: Israel’s security service killed a would-be Palestinian suicide bomber who got cold feet, and arrested three militants accused of plotting an attack in central Jerusalem, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday. The would-be bomber, Wassim Jalad, was supposed to blow up the Kaffit coffee shop in the German colony neighbourhood on July 11, the statement said. For an unknown reason, Jalad — armed with a rifle and an explosives belt — turned back and went home to the West Bank city of Hebron, it said. Suspected accomplices, arrested three days later, told interrogators of the Shin Bet security services that Jalad was supposed to shoot the cafe’s security guard, then blow himself up among the diners, according to the statement. —AP/PTI

Modi will address a rally in the district and open the Purnea airport that will provide air connectivity to several metro cities, fulfilling a longstanding demand in the Seemanchal region.

PM Modi to open Purnea airport, launch Makhana Board in Monday’s visit to poll-bound Bihar

India2 hr ago

PM Modi will visit Purnea, Bihar, on Monday to inaugurate projects worth Rs 36,000 crore, including an airport and launch the National Makhana Board. The visit is aimed at boosting development and addressing the neglected Seemanchal region. PM will also announce projects worth Rs 35,461 crore and distribute benefits to beneficiaries under different schemes.

View all shorts

Live Blog