HIGHLIGHTS: Conflicting Reports on Tirawi's Sacking||Palestinian Security Sources Say Manasreh's Appointment as Replacement of Rajoub May be Frozen||Egypt Worried that Disarray within PA Could lead to Instability in the Region||More Palestinian Security Officers in Line to be Axed||Powell's Visit to the Region in Doubt Unless He Meets Arafat|| STORY: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat reportedly fired Tawfiq Tirawi, head of the West Bank Intelligence Service, Sunday. Israel has accused Tirawi of organizing Resistance attacks. The same reports say Arafat appointed Brig.-Gen. Sameh Abdel Majib, one of Tirawi's deputies, to replace him.

Senior Fatah leader Abbas Zaki denied that Tirawi has been dismissed. Speaking in Hebron, Zaki said the reports were, "absolutely untrue."

Arafat reportedly issued the order after meeting with Egyptian Intelligence chief Gen. Omar Suleiman at his Ramallah office Sunday. PA sources said Suleiman urged Arafat to implement reforms as quickly as possible and establish calm, so the political process can resume. (Read photo caption)

"The Egyptians are carrying important messages for both sides concerning ways to resume the political process and implement future security arrangements their ideas are close to the Mitchell Report and the Tenet plan," a PA source said. "The idea is to start a new page, especially now that [Occupation army Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen.] Shaul Mofaz is on the way out," the PA source added.

Suleiman is very worried that anarchy in the PA could cause regional instability, Israeli officials said Sunday.

The officials said Egypt is concerned about recent appointments and firings in the PA, most notably the dismissal of West Bank Preventive Security Service chief Jibril Rajoub. Suleiman tried to defend Arafat with Israeli officials, but to no avail.

EGYPT & ISRAEL AGREE ON PRINCIPLES OF REFORM WITHIN THE PA

Sharon agreed with Suleiman that conditions of ordinary Palestinians not involved in confrontations with occupation troops must be improved, but he said Arafat would only get in the way.

"Israel insisted that the reforms include removing Arafat," a source close to Sharon said. "We are willing to work with the Egyptians to help the Palestinians, but the PA's reforms must be more than just cosmetic. Real reforms cannot include Arafat in his current position, and the Egyptians understand this. [Sharon and the Egyptians] agreed on the principles, but not necessarily the implementation."

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told Suleiman there is a consensus around the ideas of US President George W. Bush's Middle East vision, which has been accepted by the quartet of the US, European Union, United Nations, and Russia. He said that for negotiations to begin, the Palestinians must fight Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met with Suleiman Sunday morning and told him the reforms Arafat has taken are "insignificant."

Ben-Eliezer told him the PA has to stop financing Resistance attacks and abandon what he called 'terrorism'. Officials at the meeting said the two spoke of the steps needed to bring improved security to the region.

MANASREH'S APPOINTMENT MAY BE FROZEN

Meanwhile, members of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service said Sunday that Arafat agreed during a meeting with leaders of the service on Saturday night to freeze the appointment of ex-Jenin governor Zuhair Manasreh as head of security in the West Bank, replacing Rajoub, and promised to appoint one of the service leaders instead. One source in the service said Arafat had said he would let Rajoub and Interior Minister Abdel Razak al-Yahya decide whom to appoint.

But another PA source said Arafat had made no promises, and said only that he would consider freezing Manasreh's appointment. Hussein a-Sheikh, a Fatah leader in the West Bank, told occupation army Radio that Fatah would not hold protests in support of Rajoub, but, "if we have something to say, we can relay it to Arafat."

Sheikh, who was appointed by Arafat in 1997 to replace Rajoub, but had his appointment withdrawn after fierce opposition from Rajoub's men, said Rajoub should not have been fired and that he hopes his replacement will come from within the Preventive Security Service. "There was no need for this change while tanks are inside our cities and outside our homes," Sheikh said.

'Rajoub is a leader of the Palestinian people. He sat in jail for 17 years, and his replacement [by Arafat] was not part of PA reforms or because he is corrupt," he said.

Rajoub said earlier Sunday that he had agreed with Arafat regarding his replacement.

A senior PA source said Rajoub was in the meeting with Suleiman, and later met personally with Arafat. "Rajoub will remain in the PA leadership and will continue to deal with security issues," the source added.

Rajoub may become a security adviser to Arafat, he said.

Rajoub told occupation army Radio that the reasons for transferring a commander from one post to another are unimportant. 'What is it to you," he asked his interviewer.

MORE PALESTINIAN SECURITY OFFICERS IN LINE TO BE AXED

Palestinian sources said that because of Egyptian pressure, Arafat has decided to dismiss 12 heads of the various Palestinian security forces immediately. In addition to Rajoub and Tirawi, the sources said that Arafat is set to fire Maj.-Gen. Haj Ismail Jaber, head of the National Security Forces; Maj.-Gen Amin Hindi, head of the General Intelligence apparatus in Gaza; and Brig.-Gen. Mustafa Arafat, head of Military Intelligence. Brig.-Gen. Faisel Abu Sharkh is also set to be fired in the near future. Hindi denied that Tirawi had been fired.

POWELL'S PROJECTED VISIT TO THE REGION IN DOUBT UNLESS HE MEETS WITH ARAFAT

A senior source said Arafat would probably approve meetings between senior PA officials and Powell, but PA officials said that no one would meet with Powell unless he meets with Arafat first. Since the Americans will not agree to such a meeting, it is unlikely that Powell will come to the region, a PA source added.

Leaders of the Fatah Tanzim militia have threatened any Palestinian perceived as too close to the Americans. They warn they will not accept a replacement to Arafat, as demanded by the US and Israel. It will be difficult for PA officials to meet with US representatives without being perceived as American puppets, a Fatah source said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, back second left, and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, second right, are seen during their meeting at Arafat's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Sunday, July 7, 2002. Nabil Shaath, left, planning and cooperation minister, and Arafat's advisor Nabil Aburdeneh, third left, attend the meeting also. (AP Photo/Palestinian Authority, Omer Rashedi, HO)
- Jul 07 4:36 PM E