Arafat names new security chief

Mr Rajoub is seen as going head-to-head with Mohammed Dahlan

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has appointed a new national security adviser in a move that observers say demonstrates his refusal to be sidelined.

Brigadier General Jibril Rajoub, a former security chief in the West Bank, accepted the post on Monday having previously been sacked by Mr Arafat last year amidst disagreements.

The move is a clear indication Mr Arafat is unwilling to surrender control of security to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his security minister, Mohammed Dahlan, Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri said.

"Arafat is refusing to let go of the powers he has over the security organs," he said.

"Mr Rajoub was always seen as a rival to Mr Dahlan and it is very clear that [this move] weakens him."

Unclear powers

The US state department implicitly criticised the appointment on Monday.

Most see the appointment as an attempt by Mr Arafat to get the upper hand in a drawn out fight for power The BBC's James Reynolds

Department spokesman Phillip Reeker said the US felt it was important that Palestinian security elements be under the control of Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen.

Mr Rajoub said on Monday Mr Arafat had placed him in charge of revamping the Palestinians' multi-headed security services.

"The National Security Council will be in charge of restructuring the security organisation and in charge of putting out general plans and overseeing and co-ordinating the relationship with the quartet," he said.

"The quartet" refers to the US, UN, European Union and Russia, who drafted the so-called "roadmap" for Middle East peace.

Pressure

The move comes at a time when both the international community and Israel are increasing pressure on the Palestinians to take firmer action to end attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis.

The US wants Abu Mazen to control Palestinian security

The BBC's correspondent in Jerusalem, James Reynolds, says no one knows exactly what the appointment of Mr Rajoub means for the region because the job is "barely defined".

"Most see the appointment as an attempt by Mr Arafat to get the upper hand in a fight for power within the Palestinian Authority that's been going on for many months," he said.

A new Palestinian campaign against the militants began at the weekend, with a number of arrests being made after Palestinian police sealed tunnels used for smuggling guns into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

However, shortly afterwards, militants fired a crude missile from Gaza into Israel, which caused no damage but was seen as a direct challenge to the campaign.

Mr Dahlan had promised a series of measures to restore law and order in the Gaza Strip.

'Smoke and mirrors'

The Israelis have dismissed recent Palestinian security moves as "smoke and mirror" tactics.

Abu Mazen controls three of the Palestinian security branches: the civil police, civil defence and preventative security force.

But Mr Arafat maintains control of the remainder of the 40,000-strong force, including intelligence, border police and the navy.

He has been sidelined for more than a year by the Americans and Israelis, who prefer to deal exclusively with Abu Mazen.