Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Friday that he sent a letter to an American peace monitor to complain that recent Israeli military raids in the West Bank undermine his administration. Israeli troops have launched several incursions this week in the West Bank city of Nablus. Palestinian forces had recently deployed in the city as part of a security plan integral to the US-backed peace talks. The operations are damaging efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' West Bank administration to restore order, Fayyad said in an interview with The Associated Press. He said he delivered the same message in a letter to Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, a senior Mideast envoy for the Bush administration. Fraser met Israeli officials Friday. “I'm fed up with all that has been said the Israeli intention of easing restrictions” in the West Bank, Fayyad said. “Israel increased its military actions by 50 percent in the first half of this month compared to the same period last month. What does that mean if not that Israel is trying to undermine the Palestinian Authority?” Israel shut down several offices in Nablus this week, including a 70-shop mall, TV and local newspaper, prompting residents to question the authority of Palestinian security forces there. The army said that the organizations and companies were shut due to their affiliation with the Islamic Hamas group. As part of the peace talks, Palestinian security forces have been deployed at different points in the West Bank with the long-term aim of increasing their presence and stemming the growth of Hamas and other militant groups. Negotiators hope to set down at least the outline of a final peace agreement by the end of the year. The deal is meant to establish a Palestinian state. But Israel has been reluctant to hand over security powers to Palestinian forces in the West Bank, fearing that Hamas could seize control of the territory that includes areas near Israel's populous center. Hamas routed Abbas-allied forces in violent fighting in the Gaza Strip a year ago. Fayyad visited Nablus Thursday to demonstrate solidarity with those offices that had been closed. He said he did not recognize their closure and they would be compensated financially by the Palestinian Authority. Fayyad also met with officials from the Hamas
