Abbas vows to fight anarchy

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday he was determined to keep fighting growing Palestinian anarchy and corruption.

Israel and the United States have been pressing Abbas to halt internal and external violence by reforming his corruption-tainted security forces. Israel also says it will not proceed with a planned transfer of three Palestinian towns in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority's control or restart talks on a U.S.-backed peace "road map" unless Abbas reigns in terrorists.

Abbas dismissed hundreds of security chiefs days after gunmen from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of his Fatah organization, fired shots in the air near his West Bank Muqata headquarters and then rampaged through the town, wrecking stores and restaurants frequented by officials from the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian leader said he felt "ashamed and insulted" about the Ramallah riots and the growing state of anarchy in the Palestinian territories. He said the perpetrators were unlawful and wanted to "kill" Palestinian national efforts.

"These events severely damaged our good name and hurt our credibility," Abbas said. "We have two options: We either lose, or handle these people."

Abbas rejects intelligence chief’s resignation

Al-Aqsa terrorists wanted by Israel have claimed that Abbas had abandoned them, an allegation he denied, saying: "The opposite is true. We brought the issue up in Sharm el-Sheikh and we have a formal and absolute Israeli commitment not to harm them."

"We will not neglect their safety," Abbas said. "We will do all we can to preserve their lives and future."

Two senior Palestinian security officials, including West Bank security head Haj Ismail and Intelligence Chief Tawfik Tirawi quit last week after complaining that the Palestinian Authority had not done enough to stop the chaos.

Abbas told Tirawi on Sunday that he did not accept his resignation.

The Palestinian leader also signed a law on Saturday that would force hundreds of security officers installed by the late Yasser Arafat to retire at age 60, which they are all well over.

The Palestinian leader said he had ordered security forces to take all the necessary steps to install order and preserve the security of all citizens, property, and institutions.