So now that Arafat is gone we see first sings of effort perhaps? One of the reasons Abbas quit the first time is because Arafat wouldn't allow him to do his job properly rounding up militants. This is a positive turn of events and I hope he succeeds with his efforts

quote:

PLO Chief Vows Crackdown on Armed Chaos 2 hours, 10 minutes ago World - Reuters GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday promised steps to halt the use of illegal arms to stem chaos in Palestinian areas and ensure calm ahead of a Jan. 9 election to choose President Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s successor. In his first media interview since Arafat's death last week, Abbas, the new PLO chief and likely candidate for the presidency, also told Reuters that Israel must cease military actions in the West Bank and Gaza as he seeks to restore order. But Abbas' vow to crack down on armed disorder left unclear whether he planned to have security services take action against militants preparing to carry out attacks on Israelis, a key demand in a U.S.-backed "road map" to peace. "Steps will be taken to end the public display or show of arms," he told Reuters, saying action would be taken before the election. "We have to move on to a new era." Talks between Abbas and militant factions have so far produced no agreement for suspending attacks on Israelis. Without restraint by militants, Israel will be loath to ease army blockades or halt raids to help enable voting. But Abbas, who escaped injury in a Gaza gunfight Sunday, signaled that he may be prepared to take some kind of action against armed groups wielding significant power and contributing to growing lawlessness in the Palestinian territories . "We will act firmly against anyone who violates the law in order to make the citizens feel secure," he said. He also said Palestinians would soon unify a welter of competing security services, carrying out a major reform that Arafat had long promised but never implemented despite intense international pressure.

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