The Palestinian Authority officially supports the disengagement plan and Egypt's involvement in helping to implement it, but Fatah, Hamas, the Popular and Democratic Fronts, and other Palestinian political groupings Monday issued a joint statement strongly opposed to the "security role" proposed for Egypt and Jordan in the territories.
The statement said: "We are amazed by, and deplore, the talk of a 'security role' for some Arab parties in Gaza and the West Bank, because our people expect the Arab nation to act according to the logic of supporting the Palestinians and not the logic of 'security,' which cannot be used with regard to the Palestinian people defending its land and its holy places. The references
turn things on their heads, making the problem the Palestinian people and not the occupation."
The statement followed an emergency meeting of the parties' representatives in Gaza. It also comes before a return trip to Israel and the PA this week by Egypt's head of intelligence, Omar Suleiman, who is coordinating the Egyptian effort to guarantee an orderly and stable Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal.
The statement attacks Egypt and Jordan and calls the role envisioned for the two "as an attempt to take over the Palestinian problem." It was the most severe criticism so far by the organizations of Egypt's role in preparing for the disengagement and the intentions they ascribe to Jordan and its role in the West Bank.
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