Abu Ala pledges to unify security forces in two months

[Gimel]

Palestinian PM presents timetable for summit with Egypt, US and Israel as well as plans for intra-Palestinian negotiations.

In an interview with the Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam, Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Ala offered a glimpse into expected developments in the Palestinian Authority in the coming months. According to Abu Ala, those will include unification of Palestinian security apparatuses by September; the training Palestinian security officers by Egypt, intra-Palestinian negotiations in Cairo in September, and an Israeli-Egyptian-American-Palestinian summit in November.

Abu Ala was interviewed a day after meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief, General Omar Suleiman. In the interview, he revealed that Suleiman and Arafat reached understandings regarding reforms to be undertaken by the PA as well as regarding the role to be played by Egypt. Abu Ala characterized yesterday's meeting as "good, frank, productive and open".

Abu Ala also referred to the future of Palestinian security organizations and noted that during July and August the PA will send 30-40 security officers to Egypt. The officers will undergo six months of training and later provide instruction to all security forces in the PA. The Palestinian PM also noted that security forces will be amalgamated into three major apparatuses.

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