Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., January 24, 2008 Shvat 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:23 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

U.S. General Keith Dayton. (U.S. Department of Defense) Last update - 17:35 31/10/2006 U.S. preparing Abbas guard to take on Hamas By Aluf Benn and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent The Bush administration has undertaken efforts to arm and train the Presidential Guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in order to prepare it for a potential violent confrontation with Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip. According to information received in Jerusalem, the American security coordinator in the territories, General Keith Dayton, appeared before representatives of the Quartet in London last week and presented them with a program for bolstering the Palestinian presidential guard. The program calls for Egyptian, British and perhaps even Jordanian instructors to train the force loyal to Abbas. However, Palestinian sources say that the training of a "Special Presidential Guard" started already a month ago, under the guidance of an American military instructor. Advertisement The training is taking place in Jericho, at a compound near the InterContinental Hotel, and involves men from Force 17, an elite Fatah force traditionally assigned the protection of the Palestinian Authority Chairman. According to reports, 400 Force 17 troops have been involved in the training since August. The Palestinian Authority Chairman's office has recently barred the access of reporters to the compound. Palestinian sources say that the training program is part of Dayton's recommended initiative for the reinforcement of Abbas' forces, and which involves the transfer of $2 million to set up the necessary training facilities. According to foreign press reports, the United States would like to see the number of men in Force 17 grow from approximately 3,500 to 6,000. Conscripts in the force range from 18 to 22, and undergo basic training for three months. Some are then selected for the Presidential Guard. In the past, Dayton had proposed that the Presidential Guard, bolstered by international inspectors, be deployed at the Karni crossing in the northern Gaza Strip in order to expand the transit of goods between Gaza and Israel. Israeli sources say that the United States is interested in the fall of the Hamas government currently in power in the Palestinian Authority. During the Quartet meeting in London, the Americans expressed their satisfaction with the results of the boycott of Hamas' government, which has undermined its standing among the Palestinians. However, the U.S. administration is also certain that the sanctions against Hamas will inevitably result in a violent confrontation between Hamas and Fatah, and in such a scenario, they would prefer to strengthen the "good guys" headed by Abbas. It is unclear whether the European and Russian representatives of the Quartet support this position. Senior administration officials David Welch and Elliott Abrams, who participated in the Quartet meeting, will arrive here Monday as part of preparations for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington in two weeks. Olmert is scheduled to depart for the U.S. on November 12, and will meet that same evening with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, in anticipation of a meeting with President George W. Bush the following day. Olmert will also meet with Vice President Dick Cheney. He will then depart for Los Angeles, where he will address the annual General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities of North America. Abbas meets Muslim and Jewish religious leaders in Ramallah Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met with private delegations of religious Jewish and Muslim leaders in Ramallah on Tuesday. Among the delegates to the meeting was Rabbi Menachem Fruman, chief rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Tekoa, known for his coexistence work with Palestinian leaders over the years. No further information was given about the meeting Bookmark to del.icio.us   The father of the victim Father of terror victim slams Olmert for letting PA try the killers. And you're out German hip-hop artist thrown off reality show over Hitler salute.   1.   arming 02:36  |  matt 31/10/06   2.   Force 17 training 03:15  |  MI Quacker 31/10/06   3.   Hamas can`t last much longer 03:33  |  Dave 31/10/06   4.   So that Pal infighting is not a Pal internal affair 03:55  |  Lebanese in Canada 31/10/06   5.   This is why Olmert is a disaster 03:56  |  Sam 31/10/06   6.   Insane 04:31  |  Michael I 31/10/06   7.   Training Arab Muslims is a Terrible Idea 05:09  |  GenerX 31/10/06   8.   arming and training terrorists? 05:24  |  Rav Harley 31/10/06   9.   a big mistake!!!!!!!!!! 05:35  |  nmf 31/10/06   10.   OH yes Finally Palestinian troops will really have weapons 05:52  |  Mohammed (Abu Ali) 31/10/06   11.   That Sucking Sound You Hear Is.... 05:59  |  Klaudia 31/10/06   12.   Can`t US think anymore? 06:04  |  Benji 31/10/06   13.   # 5- Sam.. I agree 06:09  |  Klaudia 31/10/06   14.   The Ultimate Sysmbol of Betrayal 06:26  |  Timothy Stinson 31/10/06   15.   The Ultimate Symbol of Betrayal 06:31  |  Timothy Stinson 31/10/06   16.   Fatah`s enemy is Israel, not Hamas 06:44  |  Fatah memeber 31/10/06   17.   Dave, Hamas popularity not really affected by silence 06:46  |  observer 31/10/06   18.   The real culprit is injustice and occupation 07:04  |  Mark 31/10/06   19.   Here`s what I want to know 07:14  |  Johnboy 31/10/06   20.   U.S. TRAINING 07:16  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/06   21.   Man, these americans just bounce from one good idea to another. 07:22  |  Johnboy 31/10/06   22.   New Mid-East Good-Guys against Bad-Guys traitor-Guys 07:32  |  Abu Arab 31/10/06   23.   YOU WILL GOT MORE HATRED 08:03  |  indrajaya 31/10/06   24.   Did PA win democratic elections? 08:43  |  Petteri 31/10/06   25.   #16 Right from the horse`s mouth 08:46  |  Hastaroth 31/10/06   26.   Another failed US military policy 08:54  |  dave 31/10/06   27.   As IF..... 09:08  |  Raden 31/10/06   28.   US foments civil war to break elected govt. 09:40  |  raymond deane 31/10/06   29.   The issue is Iran; US not stupid 09:51  |  George Goldman 31/10/06   30.   Absolutely counterproductive 09:54  |  Fritz 31/10/06   31.   On strengthening the "good guys" headed by Abbas. 10:01  |  simon 31/10/06   32.   U.S. governement on the way to its next bloody nose !! 10:03  |  Swiss 31/10/06   33.   Stop the US warmongers 10:07  |  Michael 31/10/06   34.   UNBELIEVEABLE STUPIDITY.... 10:17  |  Zuriel 31/10/06   35.   not enough 10:20  |  B 31/10/06   36.   This is utterly wrong 10:24  |  Ben 31/10/06   37.   The "good guys" of Abbas # 31 10:33  |  Clickfool 31/10/06   38.   US HAS NEVER LEARNED FROM HISTORY 10:33  |  indrajaya 31/10/06   39.   lets help them help [kill] themselves 10:36  |  freddy 31/10/06   40.   #28 Hear, hear 10:37  |  Michael II 31/10/06   41.   Tell all the truth please 10:42  |  Ralph 31/10/06   42.   America`s plans will smash on the hard Palestinian rock 10:47  |  Mohammed 31/10/06   43.   CREATING THE NEXT ENEMY 10:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/10/06   44.   Same old conundrum 10:52  |  Stephen Connor 31/10/06   45.   #27 Raden 10:55  |  Lauren : ) 31/10/06   46.   These violent designs have violent ends 11:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   47.   Machiavellian 11:27  |  Paulo 31/10/06   48.   Johnboy & Indrajaya 11:30  |  Double Dutch 31/10/06   49.   `These violent delights have violent ends` 11:37  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   50.   #46, Margie 11:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/10/06   51.   US HAS NEVER LEARNED FROM HISTORY (2) 11:41  |  indrajaya 31/10/06   52.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:45  |  Gina 31/10/06   53.   Ralph the spy 11:50  |  not a poet 31/10/06   54.   Cipora 11:55  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   55.   No point in sending them A. Hass`s article on Fatah & control 12:01  |  sh 31/10/06   56.   clickfool "thieving and murdering" 12:16  |  harzion 31/10/06   57.   Margie in Tel Aviv 12:21  |  Gina 31/10/06   58.   #56 12:27  |  Scotty 31/10/06   59.   hey observer 12:27  |  Ahmed Uzufza 31/10/06   60.   U.S. Mid-East Policy is a Failure 12:29  |  Terry Brodsky 31/10/06   61.   Divide and Control... 12:29  |  Aaaron 31/10/06   62.   About the good guys of ClickFOOL #37 12:29  |  Jonathan S 31/10/06   63.   About Fritz and his flops #30 12:39  |  Jonathan S 31/10/06   64.   US HAS NEVER LEARNED FROM HISTORY (3) 12:58  |  indrajaya 31/10/06   65.   Margie and Cipora: Great Statesman 12:58  |  Ronnie Wolman 31/10/06   66.   To MARGIE re: Shalom-Salaam site 13:43  |  David James Vickery 31/10/06   67.   Question for Jonathan S # 62 13:44  |  Clickfool 31/10/06   68.   FORCE !7 turned its guns on Israel in the past. 13:44  |  PETER SM 31/10/06   69.   US and Israel want an all-out Palestinian civil war 13:45  |  Messaoud 31/10/06   70.   Bush is no friend of ours. 13:46  |  Avraham 31/10/06   71.   Ronnie: Pie in the sky 14:03  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   72.   To Klaudia re: Chalabi 14:03  |  David James Vickery 31/10/06   73.   #48 Double Dutch tries on the word "least positive" 14:09  |  Johnboy 31/10/06   74.   Reading this article makes me feel sick! 14:13  |  David James Vickery 31/10/06   75.   #19 Fingers 14:15  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/06   76.   #46 - Margie, good leaders are lacking on both sides. 14:18  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/06   77.   take on hamas 14:19  |  j 31/10/06   78.   clickfool and war criminals 14:31  |  zadok the priest 31/10/06   79.   #62 and 63 - A very confused Jonathan S 14:31  |  Jonathan 31/10/06   80.   An answer to ClickFOOL #66 14:35  |  Jonathan S 31/10/06   81.   #75 j in Jerusalem 14:39  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   82.   One day U.S. citizens will be fed up with Israel..... 14:45  |  Swiss 31/10/06   83.   To Jonathan from Jonathan S 14:54  |  Jonathan S 31/10/06   84.   To David James Vickery re : Chalabi and Abbas 14:55  |  Klaudia 31/10/06   85.   Al Aska, PRC and Force 17 14:57  |  richard 31/10/06   86.   the Pals have heard of Jabotinsky 14:58  |  flimflam 31/10/06   87.   US citizens are not stupid 15:01  |  ScotGuy 31/10/06   88.   What a mess! 15:16  |  Calhoun 31/10/06   89.   Great statesmen 16:06  |  sh 31/10/06   90.   flimflam 16:20  |  sh 31/10/06   91.   USA meddling in PA affairs 16:21  |  Rav Harley 31/10/06   92.   They may be trained to fight Hamas 16:44  |  Bimmer 31/10/06   93.   Notice to Altalena, KUTW, Jeff Northridge 17:02  |  Tosefta 31/10/06   94.   Clickfool`s past & Arafat 17:20  |  Laurent Fishbourn 31/10/06   95.   Bush the sequential mess maker 17:20  |  Tosefta 31/10/06   96.   Margie: Dont Need Pie,Need a Pied Piper 17:25  |  Ronnie Wolman 31/10/06   97.   @43 Cipora Julianna Cohn 17:48  |  Mark B. 31/10/06   98.   to # 82 The Swiss Part I 18:00  |  Bimmer 31/10/06   99.   To #82 The Swiss Part II 18:08  |  Bimmer 31/10/06   100.   Ronnie Wolman 18:09  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 31/10/06   101.   tosefta 18:13  |  Jasmine Murphy 31/10/06   102.   War criminals. 18:14  |  Lebanese admirer 31/10/06   103.   Look like everyone agrees ... I`m off to campaign 18:22  |  sheri 31/10/06   104.   29 - George Goldman - gotta disagree 18:32  |  sheri 31/10/06   105.   Hamas is doomed to failure 18:34  |  ScotGuy 31/10/06   106.   AS OSLO ARMS ARE BEING USED AGAINST ISRAEL 18:46  |  Yochanan 31/10/06   107.   Bimmer, you aren`t 18:54  |  Samuel Schmid 31/10/06   108.   To 102. Lebanese Admirer. Treating civilians 19:07  |  Altalena 31/10/06   109.   Indrajaya 19:18  |  gershon 31/10/06   110.   To The Powers That Be:Please Beware ON WHAT YOU ARE EMBARKING.... 19:29  |  Kathy 31/10/06   111.   Amazing Stupidity! 19:43  |  Alicia 31/10/06   112.   Talkback censors my responses to threats 19:47  |  Clickfool 31/10/06   113.   To 30. Fritz. America, Europe & the ME 19:49  |  Altalena 31/10/06   114.   To 107. Samuel , Minister of defense 19:55  |  Altalena 31/10/06   115.   # 110 AN ADDENDUM.TO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR ON PARAGRAPH FOUR..... 20:02  |  Kathy 31/10/06   116.   To ClickFOOL about threats 20:03  |  Jonathan S 31/10/06   117.   clickfool shivers in his boots 20:07  |  harzion 31/10/06   118.   to #107 20:10  |  Bimmer 31/10/06   119.   2 million? i thought there was an economic crisis going on? 20:17  |  david 31/10/06   120.   reactin to nr. 6 20:20  |  falastini 31/10/06   121.   # 105 ScotGuy. GOOD POST.AND THAT IS WHY THE U.S SHOULD KEEP.... 20:32  |  Kathy 31/10/06   122.   good leaders (Cipora) 20:44  |  gershon82 31/10/06   123.   # 112 Clickfool.re: Threats. ARE YOU AFRAID CLICKFOOL? 20:46  |  Kathy 31/10/06   124.   Alicia - #111 20:47  |  Russ 31/10/06   125.   Give this a chance 20:50  |  Ramez 31/10/06   126.   1 Matt - Americas Favorite Sport 21:02  |  Mark of Lewiston 31/10/06   127.   to Petteri #24 21:10  |  zeev 31/10/06   128.   43 Cipora - You Left out the First Iran Overthrow 21:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 31/10/06   129.   IGNORANCE AND MADNESS ?? 21:14  |  Bill. 31/10/06   130.   Demockrafarcy 21:35  |  Tadchase 31/10/06   131.   Iraqi implosion 21:55  |  Lebanese admirer 31/10/06   132.   # 125 Ramez. GIVING IT A CHANCE.EXCUSE ME... 21:58  |  Kathy 31/10/06   133.   Indrajaya 22:17  |  gershon82 31/10/06   134.   David James Vickery 22:22  |  gershon82 31/10/06   135.   #82 - Swiss 22:25  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/06   136.   Abbas $$$ 22:29  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/06   137.   David James Vickery 22:37  |  gershon82 31/10/06   138.   NOTICE to BG aka Tosefta aka ETC. 23:15  |  Gabe1 31/10/06   139.   to Swiss 23:22  |  gershon82 31/10/06   140.   Questionable support 23:29  |  matt 31/10/06   141.   Perculiar idea of the US to train the enemy; it would be interest 23:35  |  gershon82 31/10/06   142.   Jasmine Murphy on remarkable postings #101 23:53  |  sh 31/10/06   143.   The dropping down of a demoracy 23:54  |  Abdelkarim 31/10/06   144.   KATHY 00:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/06   145.   Of course, you are liable to be assassinated but you can hire bod 00:15  |  gershon82 01/11/06   146.   Let the countdown begin !! 00:17  |  DovBer 01/11/06   147.   Lebanese admirer 00:29  |  gershon82 01/11/06   148.   Samuel Schmid 00:38  |  gershon82 01/11/06   149.   # 98/99 Bimmer Sorry, I probably overestimated.... 00:40  |  Swiss 01/11/06   150.   #130 Gershon The difference is that during WW1 and WW2.... 00:43  |  Swiss 01/11/06   151.   to C. J.Kohn #43 - 3rd try 00:46  |  zeev 01/11/06   152.   to Petteri #24 - 2nd try 01:03  |  zeev 01/11/06   153.   It won`t work 01:17  |  Lebanese in Canada 01/11/06   154.   Abbas guard 01:19  |  tom 01/11/06   155.   These arms may even turn against Israel 01:19  |  Lebanese in Canada 01/11/06   156.   to #134 basically correct on Hamas elections 01:32  |  Bimmer 01/11/06   157.   106 Yochanan - Like We`re Doing in Iraq 01:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/11/06   158.   falastini #120 02:07  |  Gabe1 01/11/06   159.   Abbass and the US 02:20  |  Chaim Gorenstein 01/11/06   160.   #139, zeev 03:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/06   161.   #43 03:16  |  From the Moon 01/11/06   162.   #144 Bimmer, they are under occupation dude 05:13  |  Johnboy 01/11/06   163.   Gershon 06:26  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/11/06   164.   #127, GERSHON82 07:18  |  indrajaya 01/11/06   165.   149 Johnboy - they`re in a war dude 07:54  |  sheri 01/11/06   166.   sh on remarkable postings 09:28  |  Jasmine Murphy 01/11/06   167.   #162 - War causes occupation 12:15  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/06   168.   #165 They are under occupation dudette 13:42  |  Johnboy 01/11/06   169.   TO #24 PETTERI 15:53  |  Alicia 01/11/06   170.   Thanks to # 16 Fatah Member 15:59  |  Alicia 01/11/06   171.   Indrajaya, regarding the U.S. and the Indonesian coup d`etat: 17:00  |  Mimi 01/11/06   172.   #150 swiss 18:41  |  sheri 01/11/06   173.   #150 - Swiss 22:26  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/06   174.   #150 - Swiss 22:26  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/06   175.   #167 BEN JABO thinks all arabs look the same 00:10  |  Johnboy 02/11/06   176.   to C. J.Kohn #160 - part 1 04:50  |  zeev 02/11/06   177.   to C. J. Kohn #160 - part 2 07:51  |  zeev 02/11/06   178.   to C. J. Kohn #160 - and an afterthought 08:23  |  zeev 02/11/06   179.   #175 - Johnboy 17:19  |  * BEN JABO 02/11/06   180.   to Benji #12 - part 1 01:13  |  zeev 03/11/06   181.   to Benji #12 - part 2 01:16  |  zeev 03/11/06   182.   to Benji #12 - and something else. 01:18  |  zeev 03/11/06   183.   #179 BEN JAMO - You`re in a forest! Not a bunch of trees! 12:22  |  Johnboy 03/11/06   184.   to ben jabo #179 00:10  |  zeev 04/11/06   185.   #184 - Zeev 01:21  |  * BEN JABO 04/11/06   186.   JOHNBOYS FANTASY 01:32  |  * BEN JABO 04/11/06   187.   to ben jabo #185 12:29  |  zeev 04/11/06   188.   #187 19:59  |  * BEN JABO 04/11/06   189.   Training will not be enough 18:12  |  Faris 24/01/08

Today Online High Court of Justice to hold urgent hearing on Gaza blockade Responses: 271 Gaza source: Hamas planned border wall blast for months Responses: 138 Canada to skip UN racism meet due to 'anti-Semitism' Responses: 150 Yossi Beilin: Here's to Prime Minister Livni, Foreign Min. Olmert Responses: 20 Rami Livni: Bi-national state would only perpetuate suffering Responses: 29 Rosner's Domain McCain's letter on Gaza: Israel has the right to defend itself (WTR) Who's better for Israel, Clinton or McCain? New poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election? Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another" Actor Jon Voight: Every Jew must vote for Giuliani (WTR) More Headlines 16:01 PM completely freezes new construction in West Bank settlements 16:46 Arab League chief: Israeli policy is destroying peace process 18:13 Dichter tells police to ratchet up security on Egyptian border 18:21 Yad Vashem launches Arabic Web site to combat Holocaust denial 17:57 RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE: Gaza overlooked by U.S. voters 15:41 Egypt rejects idea of Israel waiving responsibility for Gaza 17:29 AG: Bedouin buildings can be destroyed only with Justice Min. approval 14:15 Burns, in Israel, says new Iran resolution will be punitive 15:30 UN rights council slams Israel's 'grave violations' in Gaza Strip 15:36 Palestinian forces enter Jordan for training under U.S. program Previous Editions Select Day 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Teach & Study Program make a difference in Israel FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved