Palestinian offices in Jerusalem closed

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN), AUG. 10. Israeli police and special forces personnel moved into Orient House, the unofficial headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the city, and several other offices of the Palestinian Authority in East Jerusalem in the early hours of Friday. This step appears to be in retaliation for the suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem yesterday in which 18 people (including six children) were killed and nearly 90 injured, though the Israeli authorities say that their objective was to motivate the Authority to crack down on terrorism. The closure of several offices might be regarded as a relatively tame or less than expectedly bloody reprisal for a horrific attack but it is nevertheless a powerful political move.

Despite Israeli objections, Orient House has functioned as the unofficial headquarters of the PLO in Jerusalem and the late Faisal Husseini, who used to run it, made a habit of meeting diplomats and the media there. Israel, for all its resentment at Orient House functioning in this manner, had closed it down only once before, in 1997, after the Oslo processes got underway.

This morning, Israeli police and special forces made their way into the building and closed down several offices. A few Palestinians were reportedly detained and there are unconfirmed reports that an Uzi sub-machine gun was recovered from the premises.

Israel's security services also closed down nine offices of the Palestinian Authority in other parts of East Jerusalem. Although Israel claims that all of Jerusalem is under its exclusive control, it has in fact turned a blind eye to the functioning of several Palestinian Authority departments (including, according to some sources, the criminal investigation department) in the Arab-populated parts of East Jerusalem. Among the nine offices closed down was the ``Governorate'' of Abu Dis, a village adjacent to Jerusalem or a suburb of it, depending on the point of view.

Abu Dis has often found mention in the drafts of the negotiations as the place where the Palestinians would set up their Capitol once their state became a reality. In fact, work is well underway for the construction of the building that is to house the Parliament-to-be.

Abu Dis does not fall into the area that has been handed over to full Palestinian control but the PA had nevertheless been allowed to set up a Governor's office and several guard buildings around it. Israel accuses the Palestinian security services operating out of these buildings of having assisted suicide bombers.

An hour after mid-night last night, Israeli F-16s also levelled a police station with missiles. No casualties were reported since police stations and Government buildings in most towns under Palestinian control had been evacuated on the apprehension that such attacks would take place. While the decision for all the above actions has been taken by the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli media has reported that their military is pressing for powerful and prolonged aggressive action.

An Israeli attack aimed at the killing of Palestinians can apparently not be ruled out, especially if another suicide bomber strikes soon. There is reason to believe that such a bomber has already set out on his mission. After yesterday's bombing, both Hamas and Islamic Jehad claimed the ``martyr'' as their own man, only for Islamic Jehad to later clarify that they had made a mistake. The bomber was indeed a Hamas man but Islamic Jehad had initially thought that the attack had been carried out by one of its cadres who had already been sent on a mission.

While retaining the tough option, Israel is able to make political capital out of the universal condemnation of Palestinian terror tactics that followed yesterday's strike. Simultaneously, Israel is also sending out the message that it will whittle down Palestinian aspirations and even the gains they have so far made.

The Palestinian Authority President, Mr. Yasser Arafat, condemned the suicide bomb attack and asked Israel to join him in a fresh declaration of cease-fire (Israel refused to do so) that would be monitored by international observers. But Israel insists that Mr. Arafat is not taking action at anywhere near the level required to prevent acts of terrorism. For his part, Mr. Arafat seems to be caught between the demands of Israel, and now of the U.S. as well, that he take prompt action and the attitude of his people.

The Palestinians say that they are being forced into terrorist activity by Israel that keeps them under siege and offers no hope for the future.

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Section  : International
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