Arafat Orders Palestinians to Prepare for Police and Administrative Tasks in Gaza and Jericho

Strategic Insights -

PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat has instructed hundreds of Palestinians living in refugee camps in southern Lebanon to prepare for handling police and administrative tasks in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho. According to Palestinian sources, Arafat has asked officials of his mainstream Fatah movement to prepare approximately 700 Palestinians to join the Palestinian police force in the regained territories. In addition to this, around 100 Palestinian refugees are to participate in administrative and logistic tasks in Gaza and Jericho, traveling through Egypt or Jordan.

Key Takeaways:

  • Arafat has ordered around 700 Palestinians living in refugee camps in southern Lebanon to prepare for joining the Palestinian police force in Gaza and Jericho.
  • Approximately 100 Palestinian refugees are to participate in administrative and logistic tasks in Gaza and Jericho, with travel arrangements through Egypt or Jordan.
  • Former Fatah Commander in Lebanon, Munir Makdah, has confirmed Arafat's orders, but expressed difficulty in gathering a large number of refugees.
  • The majority of Fatah guerrillas have found alternative jobs due to the freeze in military activities and a shortage of funds.
  • Arafat has reiterated instructions to collect arms from Palestinian camps in Lebanon.

Statistics:

  • Around 700 Palestinians are to be prepared for joining the Palestinian police force in Gaza and Jericho.
  • Approximately 100 Palestinian refugees will participate in administrative and logistic tasks in Gaza and Jericho.
  • Travel arrangements for these refugees will be made through Egypt or Jordan.
  • Fatah military activities have been frozen due to a shortage of funds.
  • The population of Palestinian refugees in southern Lebanon is not specified.

Sources:

  • Palestinian sources
  • Nayla W. Razzouk in Beirut, with Abdel Mawla Khaled in Sidon