PA orders its security elements not to open fire at Israelis in self-defense

[ 25/04/2011 - 06:53 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Fatah-controlled Palestinian authority (PA) in Ramallah issued strict instructions to its security apparatuses in the West Bank not to open fire at Israeli troops or settlers even if it was in self-defense.

The source affirmed that the leaders of the PA security apparatuses told their cadres that they would not be lenient with anyone of them shooting at Israeli troops and settlers under any reason, even if it was for self-defense because such act would be detrimental to the higher national interests and only serve the occupation as they said.

He noted that the PA intelligence apparatus embarked on Sunday morning on interrogating all policeman and security elements who were present in the area where the attack on some settlers happened.

Widespread popular outrage is prevailing in Nablus city because of the shameful and cowardly attitude of the PA security forces towards the killing of one settler at Yousuf's Tomb east of Nablus.

As the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Nablus without prior notice following the incident, the Palestinian citizens saw all the PA security forces, even the traffic policemen, leaving their posts, disappearing from the streets and shutting down their headquarters and institutions.

Eyewitnesses told the PIC that the PA security men stationed near Yousuf's Tomb left their posts and vanished quickly when the IOF entered the eastern part of Nablus city, but later they appeared after the IOF withdrew.

They affirmed that after the withdrawal of the invading Israeli troops from the scene following violent clashes with Palestinian young men, a large number of angry citizens poured into the Tomb and set fire to it.

The Israeli investigations showed that one of the PA national security men opened fire at a group of Israelis after they refused to comply with orders to evacuate the Tomb because there was no prior coordination with the Israeli side.

An eyewitness affirmed to the PIC that he heard the sound of gunfire from an Israeli automatic weapon, M16, and it was followed by the sound of shooting from a Kalashnikov gun which is used by all PA security men.

He expressed his belief that one of the Jewish settlers visiting Yousuf's Tomb started to open fire at the PA national security men who responded in self-defense to the settler.

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