[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: The Hebrew version of the item reads "the
Presidential Guard does not operate in battalion size formations rather in
smaller formations" rather than the English version '"unable". ]

Israel to let Presidential Guard train near West Bank city of Jericho
By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 07:19 24/05/2007
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/862673.html

Israel agreed to extensive training of members of the Presidential Guard of
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in areas near Jericho, in the
Jordan Valley.

The Palestinian Presidential Guard is undergoing similar training in Egypt.
The training of units can reach battalion size formations, even though
during their operations in the territories - in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank - the Presidential Guard is unable to operate in such formations.

The request for Israel to permit such extensive training was made through
the Americans. Prior to this, Israel agreed to the transfer of thousands of
rifles and ammunition to Abbas' Presidential Guard. The serial number of
each weapon was registered in order to maintain at least minimal control
over the weapons. On the other hand, Israel refused to approve another
Presidential Guard request for the transfer of weapons of larger calibers
than rifles, including heavy machine guns.

Meanwhile, in Israel, the debate still rages whether the fight for the Gaza
Strip between Fatah and Hamas has been tipped in favor of the latter. Among
the Israel Defense Forces, including Military Intelligence, the view is that
Hamas holds the advantage in the Gaza Strip. On the basis of this view,
Hamas is the leading military force in the Strip and it has the power to win
the war. This is not the case in the West Bank, where Fatah has the
advantage.

The Defense Ministry's assessment is more restrained. Deputy Defense
Minister Ephraim Sneh, who deals with Palestinian affairs, believes that
even though Fatah is in retreat in the Gaza Strip, the battle is not yet
over.

In the most recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah in the Strip,
Presidential Guard forces managed to defend the Karni crossing - the main
transfer point for food and materials to the residents of the Gaza Strip.
While Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other extremist groups, such as clan-based
gangs, are willing to see Karni, the main artery for Palestinian life,
destroyed, Fatah is bracing itself to defend it.

American General Keith Dayton, the security coordinator between Israel and
the Palestinians, proposed a plan which requested that the Palestinians
establish an extensive defensive structure for the Karni crossing, a task
which Fatah and members of the Presidential Guard recently completed.

Currently Fatah has a serious problem with its senior military leadership.
They are missing a leading commander, a chief of staff of sorts. On the
other hand, at the lower levels, a number of officers have proven themselves
in recent clashes with Hamas.

The assessment of the Shin Bet differs from that of the IDF. They maintain
that the battle for the Gaza Strip is still not decided. Nonetheless, the
Shin Bet is also not optimistic about the long-term future. This assessment
will only change if there is a major revival in Fatah, and if a majority of
the Palestinian public concludes that Hamas is the source of serious damage.