Relative quiet in Gaza Strip, as PA policemen do their job

[newyorican]

Another day of relative quiet passed in the Gaza Strip yesterday with only a few cases of isolated gunfire and no casualties.

Southern Command sources say that the Palestinian Authority police efforts to prevent Qassam and mortar fire is proving itself. The PA is now preparing to deploy its troops in southern Gaza as well.

An analysis of the shooting incidents of the past few days shows that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have already been following a de facto cease-fire agreement, even though it is not yet formalized with the PA.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/531433.html

About time.

[QueerJustice]

1. Funny how they are ABLE to do their job...NOW...

and could NOT do it when the arafat was alive....

[newyorican]

2. Glad you approve...

Abbas must be your favorite Palestinian.

[Scurrilous]

3. Palestinian Police Deploy in Gaza Strip

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=1&u=/ap/20050128/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

<snip>

"Hundreds of Palestinian police deployed in the central and southern Gaza Strip on Friday, a day after the new Palestinian leadership banned civilians from carrying weapons and Israel's prime minister said conditions were ripe for a "historic" breakthrough toward peace.

The Israeli army chief on Friday, in turn, ordered his troops to halt operations in areas of Gaza where Palestinian troops have taken up positions, and to minimize arrest raids in the West Bank.

The change in troop deployment was the latest in a flurry of steps toward ending more than four years of fighting and resuming peace talks. Over the weekend, top Israelis and Palestinians are to set the terms for an Israeli troop pullback from West Bank towns, and an Israeli-Palestinian summit is expected soon."

<snip>

"On Friday, armed Palestinian policemen left their barracks in a long convoy, heading for two of the most volatile areas, the refugee camps of Khan Younis and Rafah. Hundreds of Palestinians lined the streets to watch the convoys. "Look, we have an army and we didn't even know it," shouted one youth as police went by."

[pelsar]

4. i approve....

and though i'm reluctant to jump too high, this is the first time since the start of intifada one, that I really see and believe a change is possible.....