Security Services Chief Rajoub suffers a setback

Palestinian Security Services Chief in the West Bank, Jibril Rajoub, suffered a setback when the Fatah central committee decided a few days ago to suspend him from the movement for six months and insisted he send a letter of apology to committee member Sakher Habash (Abu Nizar) for allegedly insulting remarks he made in a letter to Yasser Arafat.

The committee also said in the ruling that it was a “final warning” before Rajoub is dismissed from his post as head of security services. The decision was made in conjunction with Yasser Arafat, who presided over the meeting in Ramallah.

Rajoub's name was among those speculated by foreign diplomats as a possible successor to President Yasser Arafat, but the latest setback, along with criticism voiced against his operation by Palestinian leaders have made such a development near impossible.

A few weeks ago, Rajoub and his Preventive Security in the West Bank, were openly blamed by Hamas for handing over two members of the movement who were being held by the Palestinian government and were kidnapped by Israeli soldiers as they were being moved from a Nablus prison to Hebron.