Planning for Reforms in the Palestinian Authority - 2002-05-16

A senior advisor to Yasser Arafat states that the Palestinian leader has agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in the next six months as part of a broader reform plan for the Palestinian Authority. Arafat's decision was announced today just hours after the Palestinian Legislative Council unanimously voted to hold presidential elections early next year. In today's session, the council also called for the resignation of all 30 members of Arafat's cabinet, the formation of a smaller cabinet in the near future, and parliamentary elections early next year. Analysts say today's vote appears to be the first internal challenge to Arafat's leadership since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1996. Arafat has been under pressure for reforms from Israel, the United States, and Europe. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has made reforms in the Palestinian Authority a precondition for the resumption of peace talks. Meanwhile, Israel claims to have thwarted a series of Palestinian terrorist attacks with a sudden raid in the West Bank. According to the Israeli army, 21 Palestinians suspected of militancy have been arrested in Ramallah. Israeli forces also killed a member of the Palestinian security service today in Ramallah. Previously, the Israeli army reported the arrest of 17 other Palestinian militants, including several senior members of Hamas, in a village north of Nablus. These raids come as the Palestinian Legislative Council has begun work on a reform plan for the authority.