Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 22, 2008 Adar1 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:17 (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

Last update - 02:16 22/02/2008 EU advisers to PA police seek $221 million for training, prisons By Reuters Advertisement Western powers plan to hold a conference in Berlin in March or April that will focus on the funding needs of Abbas' police force and the crumbling penal system in the occupied West Bank, organizers said. Abbas' Western-backed government launched a security crackdown in the West Bank late last year, seeking to showcase Palestinian efforts to comply with the long-stalled "road map" peace plan. Abbas' government and some Western officials have accused Israel of undermining the effort by frequently conducting raids into areas patrolled by Palestinian forces. Western officials say the security crackdown has also been hamstrung by a shortage of prison space to hold criminals and militants after they are arrested. Though training has increased, Palestinian police lack basic equipment. A recent EU audit found that police in the West Bank had only 40 sets of handcuffs. The EU police training program said it began distributing 250 new sets this week. Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed at a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November to try to reach a statehood agreement before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office next January. But Olmert vowed not to implement any agreement until the Palestinians fulfill their road map obligations to rein in militants, both in the West Bank, where Abbas' government holds sway, and in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas Islamists seized by force in June. The head of the EU training program, Colin Smith, told Reuters that 100 million euros (e147.4 million) in additional funding was needed in the near-to-medium term to step up training and equipping of Abbas' police force. Smith said another 50 million euros (e73.69 million) was needed to refurbish and expand the Palestinian system of detention centers and prisons. The system's current capacity is 509 people, though it can accommodate up to 705 in emergencies, officials said. Smith said the additional funding would expand the system's capacity to at least 3,000 detainees. A major donors' conference in Paris in December raised e7.7 billion for the Palestinians. But Smith said none of that money was earmarked for police training and prison expansion. Building Palestinian security forces for a future state will require an estimated $4.2 billion to $7 billion over five years, according to U.S. estimates shared with European and Israeli officials. It is unclear where that money will come from. Related articles: Newly deployed PA police force leaves Nablus to IDF at night Israeli, Palestinian police forces hold first ever joint workshop PA police chief: West Bank crime up 60%; blames militants, poverty EU-trained women join PA police ranks in latest West Bank reform Bookmark to del.icio.us   The black sheep The U.S. freezes Assad's cousin's assets for trying to weaken Iraq and Lebanon. Pristina, Ramallah Yasser Abed Rabbo called on the West Bank to declare independence like Kosovo.   1.   What the Dr. Ordered 20:18  |  Baz mann 21/02/08   2.   More prisons, the whole place is a prison! 20:51  |  El-Birawi 21/02/08   3.   What are the chances of peace? 20:51  |  Jean Van Daem 21/02/08   4.   Host Not , Aid Not , Fund Not Terror Arab PLO-PA 21:35  |  Joseph . E 21/02/08   5.   WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY ON AN ILLUSION!!! 21:47  |  Colonel Bill 21/02/08   6.   EU vultures have joined pal hyanas and parasite on taxpayers 23:14  |  Absolute Sweden 21/02/08   7.   Let the Eu pay for it. 23:29  |  Lynn 21/02/08   8.   EU ADVISORS SEEK $221 FOR PA 23:44  |  SERGEANT JOFFRE 21/02/08   9.   Let the Us pay for it 00:02  |  Mark B. 22/02/08   10.   Now i got it ! that`s why their prisons have no.. 00:16  |  David 22/02/08   11.   Criminal Moslem states: Kosovo and PA bankrupt the EU! 01:16  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/02/08   12.   US , EU Funding Terror Against Israel 03:21  |  Joseph . E 22/02/08   13.   Stop giving money to Fatah 03:25  |  Abu Samer 22/02/08   14.   The ladies who post on Ha`aretz... 03:36  |  MaryRose 22/02/08   15.   Pals money 05:09  |  Shtarka 22/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 197 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 296 Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun Responses: 194 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 89 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 77 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza Obama has a mainstream Democratic team (WTR) Guests: girls receiving a Jewish education is a given U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 03:15 Worried Rice to discuss Gaza with Olmert in Japan 03:19 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams 03:57 Italian FM says Mughniyah killing in Damascus was act of 'terror' 00:05 Monopoly Website drops country names after Jerusalem row 03:11 Hamas officials: Israeli missile kills at least 2 Gaza militants 05:01 Rumors that Putin's successor is Jewish has community worried 01:06 Russia offers to host, finance Israel 60 anniversary events in Moscow 04:59 Al-Aqsa militants wanted by Israel escape from PA jail 01:15 Serb rioters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, clash with police 04:11 Israeli-Palestinian comic troupe brings show to U.S. audience Previous Editions Select Day 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb

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