In a meeting with several Fatah lawmakers in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, hinted Tuesday at possible pull out of Palestinian Authority's police forces from the various West Bank areas unless Israel halts actions against the West Bank. Sources close to the meeting said that the Palestinian President would bring the issue to a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, expected later on Tuesday.
Over the past two weeks, the Israeli army has been carrying out sporadic attacks on West Bank cities, particularly Nablus city, which falls under the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction.
Abbas considers such Israeli attacks as a 'threat to his standing in the West Bank', as peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis are underway.
On Monday, the Israeli army conducted arrests of Palestinian businessmen and lawmaker, Mona Mansour of Hamas, in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Palestinian Authority forces have been deployed over the past few months across many parts of the West Bank, including Nablus, within the PA's drive towards some security arrangements.
The PA and Israel are entitled to take reciprocal steps in the framework of the U.S-backed Road Map peace blueprint of 2003, involving PA disarmament of resistance factions and Israeli halt of settlement activities.
Amira Oron, spokeswoman of the Israeli foreign ministry, was quoted yesterday by the Gaza-based Ramattan News Agency as saying that the Israeli army actions in the West Bank are necessary to crackdown on what she termed ' terror suspects'.
