Nazir Majally, Asharq Al-Awsat

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 12 November 2003 — Israel and the United States signaled yesterday they would work together with the new Palestinian government despite objecting to President Yasser Arafat’s continued clout in security affairs.

“This is a grace period only,” a senior Israeli government source said.

Washington retreated on Monday from its position that a Palestinian prime minister must control all security forces and said it would judge a new Palestinian Cabinet, due for parliamentary approval today, on its performance.

The US retreat followed a Palestinian deal under which the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, and a National Security Council chaired by Arafat will be responsible for security matters.

“Security responsibility is now shared for the first time,” said Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, a senior Arafat aide.

The United States and Israel had sought to sideline Arafat, accusing him of fomenting violence and had pressed for an “empowered” prime minister. Bowing to the reality that the Palestinians were unlikely to choose a government more to Washington’s liking, the State Department said the only criterion was whether Qorei’s new administration would crack down on militants.

The Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, said it was ready to meet Qorei to discuss a halt in attacks on Israelis, but a truce “made no sense” at the moment. “We welcome any meeting with Qorei,” Jihad spokesman Khaled El-Batch said.