Israeli radio: Palestinian Authority for ending activities of armed Palestinian groups

The Palestinian official in charge of internal affairs at the Palestinian Authority interior affairs official Abdul Razzaq al-Yahya said he intends to unify the security departments and the Palestinian police forces in the West Bank and Gaza.

He added in statements quoted on Sunday by the Israeli radio that the Palestinian Authority will work for putting an end to the activities of the armed Palestinian groups and will not permit the foundation of independent forces inside the Palestinian Authority. He said that the "suicide" operations lead to undermining the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.

For his part, one of the Hamas movement's leader in Gaza Abdul Aziz al-Rantesi commented on al-Yahya statements and said that the "Palestinian reality makes such statements ( by al-Yahya ) as unrealistic." He ruled out that the Palestinian Authority will take any step against the resistance movements under the continued Israeli repression operations against the Palestinian people.