Office for Foreign Relations and Information 

Today the Middle East group of four called on Palestinians to take action against radicals. This is also a requirement of Israel in order to be able to start the peace process. What do you regard as Abbas´ success in this matter?

Abbas doesn't have the same support as Yasser Arafat had. In spite of the fact that he doesn't have such strong power, he is not as weak as some commentators anticipated. He succeeded to realise certain surprising steps. One of the surprising actions was that at the time of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit meeting he managed to remove three very important police commanders in Gaza, which was not expected by anyone. He had removed them and nothing happened, there was no hard reaction.

Do you think that he does maximum he can?

Maximum is a strong word. He has a lot of issues to resolve, as the Palestinian security forces are very scattered. If he wants to unite them, it will be a difficult work. Nevertheless there exist certain positive signals.

Who according to your opinion is responsible for Friday attack in Tel Aviv?

It is assumed that it could be some cell belonging to a certain Islamic organisation. It is very likely that it could be Islamic Jihad.

It is known that the Czech intelligence service has very good contacts in Arab world. Do you have any signals about the possibility of another similar attack?

The security situation in this region is monitored especially by Middle East security agencies, firstly Israeli ones. To monitor daily situation is their priority. Concerning the danger of concrete attacks, it is not possible to be foreseen. The danger is permanent there. But the security measures taken by the Israel are relatively exigent and they are even effective, as was proved during the last few months.

What is necessary to do in order to make Palestinian security force effective and able to confront radicals? What reform would be necessary?

Firstly it is necessary to reorganise security forces of Palestinian autonomy. Currently there are about a dozen of them. The best solution would be to form maximally three security troops under a single command, under the political control of the interior minister. The consolidation of security units is the best direction for Mahmoud Abbas to take. Concerning further operation of security forces, there is the need for strong control systems of financial means and of the way orders are given and performed.

Do you think that there exists any form of cooperation - even unofficial - among Palestinian and Israeli secret services in the field of combating terrorists?

After the death of Yasser Arafat the situation has dramatically changed. There exists a chance for political negotiations. A part of each political negotiations is also an unofficial negotiations, which is not to be seen. Negotiations at different levels. Such negotiations really take place.