Israel is considering granting permission for the Palestinian Authority to station armed forces in Bethlehem following similar deployments in Jenin, Shechem and Hevron. The PA and Israel call the special forces "police officers," but they have undergone intensive military training by Americans at bases built for them at Jericho and in Jordan.
The special forces are in effect part of the growing security forces of the PA, which is not allowed to have an official army under existing agreements. However, the PA has sought advanced weapons and light armored personnel carriers (APCs) for the force.
The forces are in effect part of the growing "security forces" of the PA, which is not allowed to have an official "army" under existing agreements.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak's spokesman said that a decision has not yet been made on the deployment in Bethlehem, but may come before the Christian holidays that start on the evening of December 25. Regardless, Israel would retain most responsibilities for security. If permission is granted, the special forces would be taken from those that recently began patroling in Hevron, and would not be comprised of additional officers.
Tourism in Bethlehem has suffered badly since the outbreak of the Oslo War eight years ago, and Hamas harassment has forced out thousands of Christians.
Current arrangements in other Arab cities within the current borders of Israel have been coordinated with the IDF, and Hamas has accused the PA and Israel of cooperating to break up the Hamas infrastructure in the cities.
Law and order have become more common, but the IDF still carries out nightly counterterrorist operations to round up terrorists while the PA forces deal mainly with criminal elements and traffic offenders.
Allowing the special forces in Bethlehem is considered another "goodwill" gesture by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert towards PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who has been trying to weaken Hamas in an effort to overcome opposition to extending his current term, which expires January 9.
However, Abbas surprised observers Sunday by saying he will call for new elections, a move that indicates he is confident that he can trounce Hamas, which won the previous legislative elections in a landslide vote in 2006.