Ghazi al-Jabali

Ghazi al-Jabali was the Gaza Strip Chief of the Preventive Security Service, appointed by the Palestinian Authority. Al-Jabali, who held the rank of Major general at the close of his tenure in the Palestinian security forces, had been a police commander and chief of the Gaza police since the early 1990s.

Since 1994 he has been the target of repeated attacks by Palestinian groups opposed to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, including gunfire aimed at his offices and a bomb that destroyed part of his house.[1] He has also been the subject of a 1997 arrest warrant and extradition request from Israel, based on accusations that he ordered Palestinian police officers to attack an Israeli checkpoint in July 1997.[2]

Al-Jabali was the target of protests after the shooting deaths of three Palestinian teenagers during clashes with police forces; demonstrators claimed that al-Jabali had given police officers orders to shoot protesters throwing stones during a Hamas organized demonstration in support of Osama bin Laden.[3][4]

Al-Jabali resigned from his post as chief of police in Gaza in June 2002, during a security forces shake-up that also saw the dismissal of Colonel Jibril Rajoub and the resignation of Colonel Mohammed Dahlan. Along with his resignation he announced his intention to oppose Yaser Arafat as a candidate for president of the Palestinian Authority.[5] He was appointed chief of Palestinian Civil Police Forces in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in October 2003.[6]

A February 2004 gunfight Gaza police headquarters was construed by some officials as an attempt on al-Jabali's life. Other officials blamed violence on his rival Mohammad Dahlan members of the body he formerly commanded, Preventive Security Service.

Al-Jabali was criticised for corruption and curbing press freedoms, as well as the arrest of Eyad Sarraj, a civil rights activist.[7]

On July 17, 2004, he was kidnapped at gunpoint by the Jenin Martyr's Brigade part of the Popular Resistance Committees, who ambushed his convoy and wounded two bodyguards. Al-Jabali was only released after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat agreed to fire him. He was replaced with Arafat's cousin, Musa Arafat, a move which did little to restore public confidence in Police.[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Conal Urquhart (July 17, 2004). "Palestinian militants ban UN envoy". London: Guardian.
  2. ↑ Patricia Cockburn (September 9, 1997). "West Bank raids pave way for Albright". London: The Independent.
  3. ↑ "Arafat meeting with Blair". TVNZ. October 15, 2001.
  4. ↑ Fisher, Ian (October 11, 2001). "Palestinians still stunned after shooting by their own police". New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ Lahoud, Lamia (July 10, 2002). "Palestinian movement calls for confederation with Israel". Jerusalem Post.
  6. ↑ "Arafat appoints West Bank and Gaza Strip police chief - Al-Jazeera". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. October 15, 2003.
  7. 1 2 Civil Police (al-Shurta Madaniyya) GlobalSecurity.org
  8. ↑ Arafat appoints West Bank and Gaza Strip police chief - Al-Jazeera.
  9. ↑ "Arafat announces security shake-up amid turmoil". CNN. July 17, 2004. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
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