Jerusalem, Dec 14, (dpa/GNA) – Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces, moved against the radical Hamas movement and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Jenin in the West Bank, in an operation that began on Saturday morning and continued through the day.
The PIJ reported that one of its commanders had been killed. There was no official confirmation of this.
The operation in the city in the north of the West Bank, was aimed at liberating Jenin from “lawless elements,” a spokesman told the official WAFA news agency. PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa was expected to visit.
Observers believe the PA fears an armed uprising in the West Bank, and that it will lose control, as it did over the Gaza Strip in 2007, after Hamas won the last parliamentary elections the previous year.
Since then, the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has maintained limited authority over the occupied West Bank only, with Israeli security forces repeatedly mounting their own operations.
At the start of the week, PA security forces were also active in Jenin against Hamas and PIJ, both of which accuse the PA of collaborating with Israel.
GNA