President Mahmoud Abbas today named a tough new commander for Palestinian internal security who helped lead a crackdown on Islamic militants in the 1990s, officials said.
The appointment of Rashid Abu Shbak as head of preventive security, which is meant to monitor political groups and track down collaborators with Israel, further strengthens Mr Abbas's hand after ousting top officers loyal to Yasser Arafat.
Security reforms are a step toward meeting US and Israeli demands for reform of corruption-plagued forces to strengthen prospects for peacemaking that have grown since Mr Abbas was elected to replace the late Arafat in January.
An interior ministry spokesman said the reforms would help security forces impose order. Palestinians complain of growing chaos, some linked to militant factions, some blamed on criminals.
"People will soon begin to feel tangible results," said Tawfik Abu Khoussa.
Mr Abu Shbak, a senior officer in the ruling Fatah movement once jailed by Israel, was previously the head of preventive security in Gaza. He was a deputy to local strongman Mohammad Dahlan in a 1996 crackdown on militants.
Former police chief Saeb al-Ajez
Israel has said Palestinians must dismantle armed groups if there is to be any progress on talks and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has accused Mr Abbas of failing to mount a "real fight against terrorism".
Mr Abbas, who says he prefers dialogue with the factions, has coaxed them into a de facto ceasefire with Israel following 4-1/2 years of a Palestinian uprising.
Small signs of discontent over Mr Abbas's security reforms have emerged from former officers after he named new heads for national security, intelligence and police at the weekend and forcibly retired hundreds of men over 60.
"The political leadership, in making these changes, aimed to distance themselves from responsibility over the deterioration of security and lay the blame on those who retired," said former police chief Saeb al-Ajez, who resigned following an attack on a Gaza prison in February.
"I do not believe that changing security leaders will end the deteriorating security conditions."