The PA declared it is disbanding its "death squad" which often brutally dealt with Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. Rashid Abu Shubak, head of the PA Preventive Security Forces, said the death squad police as well as the Martyrs Brigades will join the PA security forces. Shubak said reconciliatory meetings have been held with various factions.
The Al-Aksa Brigade, though, which changed its name to the Arafat Brigade following the death of the arch-terrorist, warned it may disrupt planned elections for his successor. The terror group announced Saturday it is considering actions to prevent Arabs from registering for the planned vote January 9.
The statements were issued the same day about 200 terrorists belonging to the terror group marched in Shechem, demanding that the reasons for Arafat's death be made public. Polls have shown that most PA Arabs believe Israel poisoned Arafat despite French and Arab doctors' statements that there was no such evidence.
The Hamas terrorist group also shows signs of influencing the PA, despite press reports that over 70 per cent of PA Arabs support Arafat's Fatah party. Hamas candidates have consistently won elections in universities, and according to a November 14 Los Angeles Times report, its popularity has surpassed that of Fatah.
In late September, a Hamas leader beat the popular jailed terrorist Marwan Barghouti in surveys. At the time, Barghouti was considered the only major possible challenger to Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti announced Saturday he will not be running for the PA presidency.
"Hamas hopes to come to power legitimately, through elections, and not in a coup d'etat," Menachem Klein, an Israeli expert in Islamic fundamentalism told the LA Times. The report also included a comment from a PA official knowledgeable about Hamas who warned, "Hamas has tremendous negative power and can undermine any arrangement."
The Al-Aksa Brigade, though, which changed its name to the Arafat Brigade following the death of the arch-terrorist, warned it may disrupt planned elections for his successor. The terror group announced Saturday it is considering actions to prevent Arabs from registering for the planned vote January 9.
The statements were issued the same day about 200 terrorists belonging to the terror group marched in Shechem, demanding that the reasons for Arafat's death be made public. Polls have shown that most PA Arabs believe Israel poisoned Arafat despite French and Arab doctors' statements that there was no such evidence.
The Hamas terrorist group also shows signs of influencing the PA, despite press reports that over 70 per cent of PA Arabs support Arafat's Fatah party. Hamas candidates have consistently won elections in universities, and according to a November 14 Los Angeles Times report, its popularity has surpassed that of Fatah.
In late September, a Hamas leader beat the popular jailed terrorist Marwan Barghouti in surveys. At the time, Barghouti was considered the only major possible challenger to Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti announced Saturday he will not be running for the PA presidency.
"Hamas hopes to come to power legitimately, through elections, and not in a coup d'etat," Menachem Klein, an Israeli expert in Islamic fundamentalism told the LA Times. The report also included a comment from a PA official knowledgeable about Hamas who warned, "Hamas has tremendous negative power and can undermine any arrangement."