The just-opened officers school is part of Abbas’s new security plan to keep the Islamic militants on the defensive, and to reassure Israel and the United States that he strong enough to carry out a peace deal. The first 142 officers will graduate in eight months, returning to their old units with new expertise that Middle East peacemakers hope will help end the chaos reigning on Palestinian streets.
With their new skills- including Hebrew to communicate with Israeli counterparts- they are to bring a sense of professionalism to Abbas’ security forces, whose poor trainning and conflicting loyalties contributed to the fall of Gaza to Hamas in june.
The United States has earmarked $86 million in security support for Abbas, and some of that will go to three other training centres in Jericho.
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