U.K. cop says PA West Bank police equipped to handle challenges

Colin Smith sounded more optimistic than in the last interview with him, six months ago. The British police officer, who as head of mission of the European Union Police Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support had trained the Palestinian police force in the West Bank for the past two years, says his trainees are equipped to cope with complex domestic challenges.

Speaking to Haaretz in Jerusalem last week as he prepared to end his assignment, Smith said the training process has been long and positive.

The senior levels of the force, including the new commissioner, Hazim Atallah, are highly motivated, according to Smith, noting that their capabilities have improved, as has the quality of their equipment.

The force is likely to be put to the test within the next month. Hamas is expected to organize mass protests in the run-up to the scheduled end of term of President Mahmoud Abbas on January 9. Smith said the 1,000 or so officers that he worked with are trained to cope with demonstrations and should be able to handle them competently.

Smith's own views on the conflict seem to have softened during his stay on the West Bank. In his last interview with us Smith complained at length about the way that Palestinians and Israelis drive. Last week, however, he spoke mainly about the positive changes to the Palestinian police as a result of their training with him and other foreign instructors.

Smith said he hoped they have passed the stage where Palestinian police officers shoot their Kalashnikovs into the air in order to disperse demonstrations. He noted the importance of causing as few injuries as possible when dispersing violent demonstrations.

Smith said the biggest challenge, which his successors will also have to deal with, is establishing a reliable justice system in the West Bank. He said it could take at least two years to finish the job started by the 15 legal advisers in the mission.