Editing Palestinian Authority (section)

===Crime and law enforcement===

====Violence against civilians====
The [[Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group]] reports that through "''everyday disagreements and clashes between the various political factions, families and cities that a complete picture of Palestinian society is painted. These divisions have during the course of the al Aqsa Intifada also led to an increasingly violent 'Intrafada'. In the 10-year period from 1993 to 2003, 16% of Palestinian civilian deaths were caused by Palestinian groups or individuals''."<ref name="Ref_r">{{Citation |title=The 'Intra'fada |publisher=PHRMG.org |url=http://www.phrmg.org/intrafada.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040606055755/http://www.phrmg.org/intrafada.htm |archive-date=6 June 2004 }}</ref>

Erika Waak reports in ''[[The Humanist]]'' "''Of the total number of Palestinian civilians killed during this period by both Israeli and Palestinian security forces, 16 percent were the victims of Palestinian security forces.''" Accusations of collaboration with Israel are used to target and kill individual Palestinians:
"''Those who are convicted have either been caught helping Israelis, spoken out against Arafat, or are involved in rival criminal gangs, and these individuals are hanged after summary trials. Arafat creates an environment where the violence continues while silencing would-be critics, and although he could make the violence impossible, he doesn't stop it.''"

[[Freedom House]]'s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, Freedom in the World 2001–2002, reports "''Civil liberties declined due to: shooting deaths of Palestinian civilians by Palestinian security personnel; the summary trial and executions of alleged collaborators by the Palestinian Authority (PA); extrajudicial killings of suspected collaborators by militias; and the apparent official encouragement of Palestinian youth to confront Israeli soldiers, thus placing them directly in harm's way.''"<ref name="Waak2003">{{Citation |author=Waak, Erika |year=2003 |title=Violence among the Palestinians |work=Humanist |url=http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_63/ai_96417155 |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110713085751/http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_63/ai_96417155 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

Palestinian security forces have, as of March 2005, not made any arrests for the October 2003 killing of three American members of a diplomatic convoy in the [[Gaza Strip]]. [[Moussa Arafat]], head of the Palestinian Military Intelligence and a cousin of the former Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]] has stated that, regarding the United States pressure to arrest the killers; "They know that we are in a very critical position and that clashing with any Palestinian party under the presence of the occupation is an issue that will present many problems for us". Since the October 2003 attack, United States diplomats have been banned from entering the Gaza Strip.<ref name="Ref_s">{{Citation | title= PA: We can't arrest those behind deadly strike on U.S. convoy |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/480576.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009145241/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/480576.html | archive-date=9 October 2004 | access-date=22 August 2004 }}</ref>

====Violence against officials (2001–2004)====
On 22 April 2001, [[Jaweed al-Ghussein]], former chairman of the Palestine National Fund, was abducted from Abu Dhabi, UAE, flown to Arish, Egypt, and driven across the border to Gaza, where he was held hostage by the Palestinian Authority. The Minister of Justice, Freh Abu Mediane, protested and resigned over the illegality. [[Haider Abdel Shafi]], Chief Delegate in the Madrid Peace Process and leading Palestinian, protested at his incarceration and demanded his immediate release. The PCCR (Palestinian Commission on Citizens Rights) took the case up. The Attorney General Sorani declared there was no legality. The Red Cross was denied access to him. Amnesty International asked for his release. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined he was being held 'manifestly with no legal justification' and appointed a Special Rapporteur on torture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3 |title=E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.1 of 27 February 2003 |publisher=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512113623/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3 |archive-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/wgad/31-2001.html |title=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |publisher=.umn.edu |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Lords/ByDate/20091110/mainchamberdebates/contents.html |title=Main Chamber Debates|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=10 March 2011 }}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 15 October 2003, three members of a United States diplomatic convoy were killed and additional members of the convoy wounded three kilometers south of the Erez Crossing into the Gaza Strip by a [[Palestinian terrorism|terrorist]] bomb. The perpetrators remain at large.

In February 2004, [[Ghassan Shaqawa]], the mayor of [[Nablus]], filed his resignation from office in protest of the Palestinian Authority's lack of action against the armed militias rampaging the city and the multiple attempts by some Palestinians to assassinate him. Gaza's police Chief, General Saib al-Ajez would later say: 'This internal conflict between police and militants cannot happen. It is forbidden. We are a single nation and many people know each other and it is not easy to kill someone who is bearing a weapon to defend his nation."<ref name="Johnston2005">{{Citation | title= Palestinians face crucial Gaza test |publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4196495.stm | access-date=19 February 2006 | date=21 January 2005 | first=Alan | last=Johnston}}</ref>

Karen Abu Zayd, deputy commissioner-general for the [[UNRWA|UN Relief and Works Agency]] in the Gaza Strip stated on 29 February 2004: "What has begun to be more visible is the beginning of the breakdown of law and order, all the groups have their own militias, and they are very organized. It's factions trying to exercise their powers."<ref name="Ref_t">{{Citation | title=Palestinian Authority Broke and in Disarray |newspaper=The Washington Post| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17536-2004Feb29_2.html | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

[[Ghazi al-Jabali]], the [[Gaza Strip]] Chief of Police, since 1994 has been the target of repeated attacks by [[Palestinian people|Palestinians]]. In March 2004, his offices were targeted by gunfire. In April 2004, a bomb was detonated destroying the front of his house. On 17 July 2004, he was kidnapped at gunpoint following an [[ambush]] of his convoy and [[wound]]ing of two bodyguards. He was released several hours later.<ref name="Ref_u">{{Citation|title=Gaza police chief kidnapped, freed |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |url=http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/17/int6.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308231343/http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/17/int6.htm |archive-date=8 March 2005 }}</ref> Less than six hours later, Colonel Khaled Abu Aloula, director of military coordination in the southern part of Gaza was abducted.

On the eve of 17 July, Fatah movement members kidnapped 5 French citizens (3 men and 2 women) and held them hostage in [[Red crescent|Red Crescent Society]] building in [[Khan Yunis]]:
:Palestinian security officials said that the kidnapping was carried out by the Abu al-Rish Brigades, accused of being linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]]'s [[Fatah]] faction.<ref name="Ref_v">{{Citation | title= 4 French aid workers, Palestinian officials seized in Gaza |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/452469.html | access-date=17 July 2004 }}</ref>

On 18 July, Arafat replaced [[Ghazi al-Jabali]], with his nephew [[Moussa Arafat]], sparking violent riots in [[Rafah]] and [[Khan Yunis]] in which members of the [[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] burned PA offices and opened fire on Palestinian policemen. During the riots, at least one Palestinian was killed and a dozen more seriously wounded.

On 20 July 2004 David Satterfield, the second-in-charge at the United States Department of State Near East desk stated in a hearing before the Senate that the Palestinian Authority had failed to arrest the [[Palestinian terrorism|Palestinian terrorists]] who had murdered three members of an American diplomatic convoy travelling in the [[Gaza Strip]] on 15 October 2003. Satterfield stated:

:"There has been no satisfactory resolution of this case. We can only conclude that there has been a political decision taken by the chairman ([[Yasser Arafat]]) to block further progress in this investigation."

On 21 July, [[Nabil Amar]], former Minister of Information and a cabinet member and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was shot by masked gunmen, after an interview with a television channel in which he criticized Yasser Arafat and called for reforms in the PA.<ref name="Ref_w">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404011204/http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=4 April 2005 }}h</ref>

Regarding the descent into chaos Cabinet minister [[Qadura Fares]] stated on 21 July 2004:
:"Every one of us is responsible. Arafat is the most responsible for the failure. President Arafat failed and the Palestinian government failed, the Palestinian political factions failed."<ref name="Ref_x">{{Citation|title=AP Palestinians Parliament |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Palestinians-Parliament.html}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 22 July 2004, The United Nations elevated its threat warning level for the [[Gaza Strip]] to "Phase Four" (one less than the maximum "Phase Five") and planned to evacuate non-essential foreign staff from the Gaza Strip.<ref name="Ref_y">{{Cite news|title=Worldnews |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415132218/https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |archive-date=15 April 2005 }}</ref>

On 23 July 2004, an Arab boy was shot and killed by [[Palestinian terrorism|Palestinian terrorists]] of the [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] after he and his family physically opposed their attempt to set up a Qassam rocket launcher outside the family's house. Five other individuals were wounded in the incident.<ref name="Ref_z">{{Citation |title=Attempted Kassam Launch Leads to the Death of an Arab Child |publisher=IsraelNN.com |url=http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=66197 |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016045307/http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=66197 |archive-date=16 October 2005 }}</ref><ref name="Berger2004">{{Citation|title=Group Says New Israeli Expansion Breaks Vow |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html|access-date=19 February 2006 |first=Joseph |last=Berger |date=23 July 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417043108/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html?hp |archive-date=17 April 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Ref_aa">{{Citation | title= Gaza youth shot dead; Arafat says PA not in crisis |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455377.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040726043850/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455377.html | archive-date=26 July 2004 | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Ref_2004">{{Citation | title= Teen dies in Palestinian clash |publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3920181.stm | access-date=19 February 2006 | date=23 July 2004}}</ref>

On 31 July, Palestinian kidnappers in [[Nablus]] seized 3 foreign nationals, an American, British and Irish citizen. They were later released. Also, a PA security forces HQ building was burnt down in [[Jenin]] by the [[al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]]. A leader of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said they torched the building because new mayor Qadorrah Moussa, appointed by Arafat, had refused to pay salaries to Al Aqsa members or to cooperate with the group.<ref name="Ref_ab">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404011204/http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=4 April 2005 }}</ref>

On 8 August 2004 the Justice Minister Nahed Arreyes resigned stating that he has been stripped of much of his authority over the legal system. The year before, [[Yasser Arafat]] created a rival agency to the Justice Ministry and was accused of continuing to control the judiciary and in particular the state prosecutors.<ref name="Ref_ac">{{Citation | title=Palestinian minister quits to protest lack of power |work=The Washington Times | url=http://washingtontimes.com/world/20040807-112344-3852r.htm | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

On 10 August 2004, a report by an investigation committee Palestinian Legislative Council for the reasons for the anarchy and chaos in the PA was published by [[Haaretz]] daily newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Regular|first1=Arnon|title=Palestinian lawmakers: Arafat evading promises of reform|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html|access-date=15 September 2015|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=11 August 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html|archive-date=11 October 2004 }}</ref> The report put the main blame on Yasser Arafat and the PA's security forces, which "have failed to make a clear political decision to end it".
The report states,
: "The main reason for the failure of the Palestinian security forces and their lack of action in restoring law and order [......] is the total lack of a clear political decision and no definition of their roles, either for the long term or the short."
The report also calls to stop shooting [[Qassam rocket]]s and mortar shells on Israeli settlements because it hurts "Palestinian interests".
Hakham Balawi said:
:"... It is prohibited to launch rockets and to fire weapons from houses, and that is a supreme Palestinian interest that should not be violated because the result is barbaric retaliation by the occupying army and the citizenry cannot accept such shooting. Those who do it are a certain group that does not represent the people and nation, doing it without thinking about the general interest and public opinion in the world and in Israel. There is no vision or purpose to the missiles; the Palestinian interest is more important"<ref name="Ref_ad">{{Citation | title= Palestinian lawmakers: Arafat evading promises of reform |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html | archive-date=11 October 2004 | access-date=11 August 2004 }}</ref>

Despite the criticism against Yasser Arafat, the troubles continued. On 24 August, the Lieutenant Commander of the Palestinian General Intelligence in the [[Gaza Strip]], Tareq Abu-Rajab, was shot by group of armed men. He was seriously injured.<ref name="Ref_ae">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050325180925/http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=25 March 2005 }}</ref>

On 31 August, the [[Jenin Martyrs Brigades]], the armed wing of [[the Popular Resistance Committees]], threaten to kill Minister [[Nabil Shaath]] for participating in a conference in Italy attended by Israeli foreign minister [[Silvan Shalom]], declaring "He will be sentenced to death if he enters. The decision cannot be rescinded, we call upon his bodyguards to abandon his convoy in order to save their lives."<ref name="Ref_af">{{Citation|title=Nabil Shaath gets death threat |publisher=Al Jazeera|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/52FB3D32-2E49-4481-8809-2C2B2CE2D44F.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103194922/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/52FB3D32-2E49-4481-8809-2C2B2CE2D44F.htm |archive-date=3 January 2006 }}</ref>

On 8 September, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, threatens to resign, again. Three weeks have elapsed since he retracted is resignation, originally tendered six weeks ago.<ref name="Ref_ag">{{Citation | title=Egypt mediates between Arafat, Qureia |work=The Washington Times | url=http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-080855-4852r.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717113709/http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-080855-4852r.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 July 2012 | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

On 12 October, [[Moussa Arafat]], cousin of Yasser Arafat and a top security official in the Gaza Strip, survived a [[car bomb]] assassination attempt. Recently{{when|date=February 2011}} the Popular Resistance Committees threatened Moussa Arafat with retaliation for an alleged attempt to assassinate its leader, Mohammed Nashabat.<ref name="Ref_ah">{{Citation |title=Arafat cousin survives bomb attack |work=China Daily |url=http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/13/content_382066.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303054854/http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/13/content_382066.htm |archive-date=3 March 2006 }}</ref>

On 14 October, Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei stated that the Palestinian Authority is unable to stop the spreading anarchy. While routinely blaming Israel for the PA's problems, he pointed out that the many PA security forces are hobbled by corruption and factional feuding. Due to the lack of governmental reforms demanded by international peace mediators, Palestinian legislators demanded Qurei present a report on the matter by 20 October, at which point they will decide upon holding a no-confidence vote.<ref name="Ref_ai">{{Citation | title= Hasen |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/488826.html |access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref>

On 19 October, a group of [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] members, led by [[Zakaria Zubeidi]], seized buildings belonging to the Palestinian Finance ministry and Palestinian parliament in [[Jenin]].<ref name="Ref_aj">{{Citation | title= Israeli soldier killed in West Bank shooting attack |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/490691.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021024647/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/490691.html| archive-date=21 October 2004| access-date=20 October 2004 }}</ref>

According to [[Mosab Hassan Yousef]], the CIA has provided sophisticated electronic eavesdropping equipment to the Palestinian Authority that has been used against suspected Palestinian militants. However, the equipment has also been used against Shin Bet informants.<ref name=yousef17>{{Citation|last=Yousef|first=Mosab|title=Son of Hamas|year=2009|publisher=Tyndale Housing Publisher|page=17}}</ref>

====Palestinian measures to keep law and order====
{{further|United States security assistance to the Palestinian National Authority}}
{{further|Palestinian National Security Forces}}
In 2006, after the [[Hamas]] victory, the Palestinian interior minister formed an Executive Force for the police. However, the PA president objected and after clashes between Hamas and Fatah, redeployment of the force was made and efforts started in order to integrate it with the police force.

In 2011, [[Amira Hass]] reported that in sections of Area B of the West Bank, especially around the towns of Abu Dis and Sawahera, a security paradox was evolving: while the [[Oslo Accords]] stipulate that the Israeli Army have authority to police Area B, they weren't; and though the Palestinian security forces were prepared to deal with criminal activity in this area, they had to wait for Israeli permission to enter, and were thus ineffective. Hass also reported that as a result of this paradox, [[Abu Dis]] and surrounding areas were becoming a haven for weapons smugglers, drug dealers, and other criminals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hass |first=Amira |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-letting-chaos-rule-in-palestinian-villages-near-jerusalem-1.368453 |title=Israel letting chaos rule in Palestinian villages near Jerusalem |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=4 April 2011 }}</ref>

As of 2013, Palestinian security forces continue to coordinate with Israeli troops in tracking Islamic militants in the West Bank.<ref name="Huffington">{{Cite web
| url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html 
| title= State of Palestine: Palestinians Change Name, Won't Rush To Issue New Passports | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011202654/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html |archive-date=11 October 2014
| date = 9 March 2013
| author1-first= Mohammed | author2-first= Karin
| author1-last= Daraghmeh | author2-last= Laub
 | website= [[HuffPost]] | url-status= dead 
}}</ref>
According to Al-Jazeera, in 2024 the Palestinian Authority was attempting to assert its limited authority by cracking down on armed groups in the Jenin refugee camp, according to experts, in order to convince President-elect Donald Trump that it is a beneficial security partner.<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinian Authority's raid on Jenin appeals to Israeli, Western interests |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/the-pa-crackdown-on-palestinians-appeals-to-israeli-western-interests |date=30 Dec 2024}}</ref>