New US security coordinator 'bad for PA'

Palestine's Islamist resistance movement Hamas has criticised the decision of the  US Department of Defense to appoint a new security coordinator between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, saying it continued to protest Israel's interests while suppressing Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The spokesman for Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, speaking to the Alresalah newspaper Saturday, said that the appointment of Admiral Paul Bushong as security coordinator "comes as part of the US project aiming to overshadow the Palestinian cause and weaken the Palestinian resistance". Barhoum added that the American measure was "blatant interference in the Palestinian issue to strengthen internal division". "There must be an end to all forms of security coordination with the occupation. Priority must be given to the Palestinian people and the completion of the reconciliation project, working on developing a national strategy to protect the interests of  Palestinians from Israeli and American blackmail,” he said. General Michael Mueller was widely tipped to take over the role, which eventually went to Bushong. Israel's Haaretz newspaper mentioned that Admiral Bushong will be responsible for the building of military forces of Palestinian security agencies and would work from the US Consulate in Jerusalem. Israeli security sources have said they are concerned about the vulnerability of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, citing recent events in Jenin and the shooting of former governor Qaddura Musa as proof of weakening  Palestinian rule.They also cited events in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and Dheisheh in Bethlehem.