The Palestinian Cabinet on Saturday approved a new security plan that is to include a joint operations center for rival security forces, the information minister said. The plan is to be the centerpiece of cooperation between the Islamic militant Hamas and the moderate Fatah movements. However, details remained sketchy, particularly on whether Hamas' militia, formed last year, would be dissolved, according to AP. The forming of the militia, known as the Executive Force, had raised Hamas-Fatah tensions and helped trigger months of deadly infighting. Last month, Hamas and Fatah established a coalition government, based on a power-sharing deal brokered by Saudi Arabia. However, the most explosive issue _ control over the security forces _ was not resolved in coalition talks, and it remains unclear whether the security plan is specific enough to end the rivalries for good. Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said Saturday that a joint operations center would be set up for all the security forces. Also, President Mahmoud Abbas is to announce the formation of a new National Security Council in two days, Barghouti said. The panel will include Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, Abbas' security adviser and Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan and three independents in the key posts of foreign, finance and interior. Barghouti said one of the major aims of the plan is to control weapons and prevent gunmen from flaunting them in the streets. -- SPA
