QABATIYEH, West Bank — Hundreds of Palestinian police came under fire when they deployed in this militant stronghold Tuesday as President Mahmoud Abbas pushed ahead with a U.S.-backed program to assert authority in the West Bank.
Sporadic exchanges of gunfire were heard throughout the morning between officers who used the small town’s buildings for cover and militants in surrounding hills. The clashes wounded three people, drove residents off the streets and forced businesses to remain shuttered.
Deployment of Palestinian security forces in the northern West Bank is a critical test of Abbas’ ability to control his own territory and is key to answering critics who argue he is too weak to implement a future peace agreement with Israel.
Israel has repeatedly complained that Abbas is not moving fast enough against militants in the West Bank, the only Palestinian territory he controls, and the success of his security campaign could play a large part in the peace talks.
As part of Abbas’ plan, Palestinian police took up positions in the West Bank city of Nablus several months ago and moved into the Jenin district last week.
Qabatiyeh, known as a stronghold of the militant group Islamic Jihad, is seen as a particularly difficult challenge because it is run by large clans that have benefited from the chaos of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
Before dawn Tuesday, Palestinian security forces entered the town. Security commander Diab Ali said policemen were attacked by militants, while an Islamic Jihad leader said police fired first.
A 21-year-old university student was critically wounded, and two other people were also hurt.
Jamal Zakout, a Palestinian government spokesman, said police would not back down.
“We know that in this town, there are some who are accustomed to lawlessness and benefited from it,” Zakout said. “The government is determined to impose law and order, by force, in this town.”
