Civil War for the PA?

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has problems. A lot of them. Not only are terrorists using official security agency cars to go about their deadly business, the officers of the security forces are in almost open revolt. Abbas received a letter from some of the officers of the security forces stating that they will use their weapons only against Israelis and suspected collaborators.

In their letter, the officers said they rejected pressure from Israel and the US to crack down on local militias.

"We are the soldiers of the homeland, not [US security coordinator] General William Ward," they wrote. "We are neither a branch of the Israeli Shin Bet nor members of a hired gang serving certain centers of power."

But what is perhaps most worrying, as far as Abbas is concerned, is the fact that the officers went on to stress that their weapons would be used only against Israel and suspected "collaborators."

Addressing Abbas, the officers said: "We urge you to get acquainted with what's really happening inside the security forces, which have begun disintegrating because of corruption, mismanagement and placing private interests above the national interests of the people, especially with regard to the state of lawlessness prevalent in the Palestinian territories." Jerusalem Post

It's ironic that the letter specifically mentions lawlessness since the PA security forces have been responsible for a large part of it. And of course, they just have to fall back on the old standby of blaming Israel and the United States for all their problems.

The letter also states, "These measures have led to dissent among the security forces," they said. "Unless you [Abbas] start paying attention to the situation, the Palestinian security forces will collapse, only to be replaced by armed gangs which the Palestinian Authority won't be able to control." I believe that is already the situation. That's tends to happen when you incorporate murdering thugs into your security forces. Chaos and lawlessness is the result.

Security issues are not the only thing plaguing Abbas. It seems he is have a wee bit of trouble with his new ambassador assignments. It's not the hosts country's who are causing the problems but some of the old ambassadors are refusing to leave and they are receiving backing from PLO leader Farouk Kaddoumi, who is in Tunis.

Until recently, Kaddoumi was in charge of all the embassies around the world in the capacity of his job as director of the PLO's political bureau. Kaddoumi sent a letter to the ambassadors instructing them to ignore the new appointments and to remain in their posts.

"I wish to inform you that [PA Foreign Minister] Nasser al-Kidwa does not represent the PLO and, as such, he does not have the power to make changes in the diplomatic corps," he wrote.

Things like having your authority to appoint ambassadors and your security forces in almost open revolt are bound to happen when your society's focus is on violence and perpetual victimhood. Things can only start to turn around for the people who the PA leads when they recognize that violence and the worship of those who perpetrate it must be stopped.