Has the Palestinian Authority fulfilled its security commitments,
and to what extent, in accordance with the road map?
(Interim analysis)

Israeli security force operation in the Old City of Nablus (IDF spokesman’s Website, January 5, 2008). They uncovered an explosives laboratory, weapons and military equipment; 23 wanted Palestinian operatives were detained		The Palestinian security services enter the Old City (Abd Omar for Reuters, December 15, 2007). The security services enforce law and order in Nablus to a great degree but avoid dismantling the terrorist networks.

Overview

1. For the past two months, as negotiations were held with Israel and preparations were made for the Annapolis meeting, the Palestinian security services carried out intensive activity in Nablus and to a lesser degree in other cities in Judea and Samaria . The objective was to put an end to anarchy, enforce public order, strengthen the PA's status among the populace and hamper the activities of Hamas (in view of the fierce confrontation between Abu Mazen and Fatah on the one hand and Hamas and Ismail Haniya's government in the Gaza Strip on the other). Moreover, the objective was to demonstrate to the United States , Israel and the international community that the PA was meeting the security commitments of the first phase of the road map .

2. An interim analysis of the situation (as of the beginning of January 2008) indicates that with regard to law and order and limiting Hamas's political, social and propaganda activities, the Palestinian services have had local successes in Nablus and several other focal points of anarchy in Judea and Samaria. On the other hand, with regard to all aspects of dismantling the terrorist networks and preventing terrorism, as demanded of the Palestinians by the road map, their activity has been limited and ineffective , and the security services' activities were not significantly different from what they were in the past. Moreover, the PA has not met its commitments in respect to stopping anti-Israeli propaganda and incitement , which has worsened since the Annapolis meeting.

3. Thus, the Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and even Fatah operatives who do not subscribe to the “wanted terrorists agreement” continue their activities and attempt to carry out terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria and within Israel , including suicide bombing attacks. The fact that there were fewer terrorist attacks in 2007 was the direct result of intensive counterterrorist activities carried out by the Israeli security forces , not by the Palestinian security services. Those Israeli activities have continued into 2008, including a broad-scope operation in the Old City in Nablus, where a explosives laboratory, weapons and military equipment were discovered (January 2-5, 2008).

4. This bulletin contains the following:

A) Part I : Palestinian security service activities in Judea and Samaria .

B) Part II : The terrorist organizations' activities in Judea and Samaria and the Israeli counterterrorist activities in 2007.

C) Part III : An interim analysis of the PA's fulfillment of its commitment to fight terrorism in accordance with the road map.

D) Appendix A : Nablus as a test case for Palestinian security activities (November 2007-early January, 2008).

E) Appendix B : Video clip: The exposure of explosives laboratory and weapons during IDF counterterrorist activities, 2007 (Courtesy of the IDF spokesman).

Click here for a video clip

>> To the Full Version in PDF format click here >>