Sari and Jibril
Israeli Interior Security Minister Uzi Landau closed down the Al-Quds University administrative offices in East Jerusalem, and the office of its president, Dr. Sari Nusseiba, yesterday, which he said were being used as a representative office of the Palestinian Authority. This is not allowed within Israel without a proper permit (and no one’s rushing to give out any permits to Palestinians these days!).

Dr. Nusseiba is known for his moderate views. He has shown courage by publicly condemning suicide bombers and acknowledging that the Palestinian right of return will never become a reality.

Nusseiba has strong connections with Jibril Rajoub, who Arafat deposed at the beginning of the week from the all powerful job of Head of the Preventative Security Forces in the West Bank. Col. (res.) Shalom Harrari, a former member of the Jerusalem security committee and expert on Arab affairs, explained, on Israeli radio on Sunday, that Nusseiba understands that he needs a strong military backing (he has none of his own), in the event of Arafat being out of the picture.

Nusseiba belongs to a wealthy old Jerusalem family, which, along with the Al-Husseini and Al-Nashashibi families, had a lot of power in Jerusalem in the days before the State of Israel. He obviously sees himself as an alternative to Arafat. Maybe we should, as well. Of course, a lot of people see themselves as alternatives to Arafat, but they'll never say it out loud. But maybe with Nusseiba we'd have more chance for real reform.

Unfortunately, I think he’s rather regarded among Palestinians as Yossi Beilin (oops! I mean Dr. Yossi Beilin) is regarded in Israel, (and has as much chance being chosen by the Palestinians as their leader, as Beilin has for being voted PM here). He really doesn’t have any popular following to speak of – another reason for aligning himself with Jibril Rajoub.

But isn’t Rajoub going to lose a lot of his clout, now he’s not Head of Preventative Security, You ask. I wouldn’t bet on it.

Rajoub’s power is much more than a position given him by Arafat, and it’s not so easy to get rid of him. His thousands of underlings in the Preventative Security are extremely loyal to him personally. This has three reasons:

A. He was head of the committee of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons for years. He therefore has very strong bonds with his fellow ex-prisoners, now in the Preventative Security, and many of them are his top officers.

B. Many of those under his command are blood relations. As you probably know, family loyalty is very strong in Arab society.

C. The Preventative Security in the West Bank is a strong economic power in the PA. For instance, they operated the successful Jericho casino, that closed with the onset of the “Intifada” war (they were shooting from the roof, we reltaliated, and so on...and it became too dangerous and later illegal to go there for Israelis).

So you see, the attempt to depose Rajoub is a direct threat to many officers’ honor, and pockets. If that is not enough, the guy they’ve brought in his stead, Zuheir Manasrah, is one of the “Tunisians” that came with Arafat. The Preventative Security in the West Bank is made up of local Palestinians. To say there is tension between these two groups would be a huge understatement. Manasrah has been strongly “advised” not to take up his post and word on the Palestinian street is that Rajoub will continue to be the boss, regardless.

Erm, how does this sound?
Israel is giving Nusseiba a hard time in order to make him more popular on the Palestinian “street”, and lessen his image as a collaborator. Thus we intend to “groom” him for leadership.
No? Oh, well. Just a thought.