After 4 yrs of fighting, Palestinian security forces capabilities limited

[Scurrilous]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/18/international1633EST0666.DTL

After four years of fighting with Israel, Palestinian security forces capabilities are limited (full title)

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"Under pressure from Israel, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas went to Gaza on Tuesday in hopes of persuading militant groups to halt their attacks on Israeli targets. Abbas has an estimated 30,000 security forces available to preserve calm. While Palestinian security forces cracked down on militants in 1996, their capabilities have been severely weakened after fours years of violence with Israel. Abbas says he will not use violence to end the attacks.

Here's a look at the strength of Palestinian security forces and militant groups in the Gaza Strip.


Palestinian National Security: This umbrella agency, led by Lt. Gen. Abdel Razek Majaide, includes the Palestinian border police, military intelligence, military police and the elite Force 17 presidential security unit. With an estimated 15,000 members, it is the largest security force in Gaza. But its infrastructure has been decimated by Israeli airstrikes, leaving it with few weapons beyond pistols, rifles and M-16 assault rifles.


Palestinian Intelligence Services: The intelligence service, led by Maj. Gen. Amin al-Hindi, has about 5,000 members in Gaza. It has remained largely intact during the fighting. But it focuses on collecting information about collaborators with Israel and security for Palestinian diplomatic missions abroad, leaving it poorly equipped for domestic security duties.


Interior Ministry: The ministry, led by Hakam Balawi, oversees Gaza's police force and preventive security agency. It has about 10,000 members and is meant to fight internal crime. The ministry's forces have been hit hard by Israeli attacks, as evidenced by the general state of chaos that has overtaken Gaza in recent years."