A large group of Palestinian security officers on Saturday rejected Yasser Arafat's choice for a new West Bank security chief in the latest challenge to the authority of the Palestinian leader. This past week, Arafat dismissed three senior security leaders, including Jibril Rajoub, head of Preventive Security in the West Bank. Arafat appointed the governor of Jenin, Zuheir al-Manasra, to replace Rajoub. But almost 200 security officers gathered Saturday to object to the appointment of al-Manasra and demand that Rajoub be given another high-ranking political or security post.
Further evidence that Whatsisname isn't controlling anything, he's only along for the ride...
"We have a clear and frank message for President Arafat ... on the necessity to get a suitable position for (Rajoub) inside the Palestinian Authority at the political and security level,'' said Maj. Gen. Majed Faraj, the force commander for Hebron. The officers said Manasra was not suitable because he was not from the ranks of Preventive Security, the most powerful security branch. They met near Ramallah and planned to march to Arafat's battered compound, which is surrounded by Israeli forces, who control seven of the eight main Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank. The Israeli troops turned back the security officers as they approached Arafat's compound.
Not being real good with cause and effect ("They're related? In what way?"), the PA coppers can't quite figure why all those IDF guys are hanging around, preventing them from making faces at Yasser. Does their presence have anything to do with any shortcomings â they'd have to be minor, of course â with Preventive Security? What, precisely, does Preventive Security actually prevent? 
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