Is The EU Going To Train Palestinian Commandos In East Jerusalem?

Speaking at a pro-Israel think tank in Washington last May, Dayton had warned that the discipline of his troops could fall apart if there was no headway in peace talks. "With big expectations, come big risks," Dayton said. "There is perhaps a two-year shelf life on being told that you're creating a state, when you're not."
Lieut. General Keith Dayton, Time Magazine on the 2,000-man Palestinian National Security Force, November 2009

And now there is word that the EU wants to create a new specially trained force in Jerusalem:

A security firm that employs the veterans of elite British units will provide instruction to 80 Palestinian security guards to be deployed in east Jerusalem.

The new Palestinian unit will be tasked with securing European Union facilities in the eastern part of the capital and maintaining order in the area. The 80 Palestinians to be selected for the highly coveted job will be trained and guided by British company Saladin Security.


The project has been arranged by the EU, which intends to train the Palestinians to serve as a highly skilled police force to maintain the order in Arab areas in Jerusalem, and later on across the Palestinian Authority.

Saladin Security, which was established in 1978, provides training and security services in dozens of countries and was set up by veterans of the elite SAS unit.

Saladin has accumulated quite a resume:

• It trained the Islamic rebels that fought the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan--its Muslim fighters eventually took over the country.
  
• In 1984, Saladin carried out sabotage acts in Nicaragua, as part of secret US support for the anti-Communist Contras.

The EU has confirmed the story, noting that Saladin has been hired "to provide security protection services." Though the EU would not provide details, it did disclose that

Saladin Security will not train Palestinian security guards but will brief and coach their staff to ensure the quality of the service. In compliance with Israeli regulations, the members of the close protection team, composed of EU nationals, receive their weapon license from the competent Israeli authorities.

I don't know what kind of briefing and coaching they are supposed to provide, but considering Saladin's background, they sure do seem a bit overqualified for the kind of security guards that the EU seems to be talking about.

Maybe that is why the EU issued a further clarification:

EU’s Press & Information Manager, David Kriss, issued the following response: “The EU would like to clarify that it has not hired UK Saladin Security to train a special Palestinian unit to be deployed in East Jerusalem. The EU has contracted UK Saladin Security to provide protective security services (guarding services, access control, night watch, etc.) strictly and exclusively for EU staff and premises. Mr. Kriss also added that the EU is training the "blue" PA police but in other frameworks.

It's not clear how to reconcile the two statements: is Saladin going to have anything to do with Palestinian security guards or not?.

The lack of information has naturally given rise to some suspicions--According to Jerusalem Dispatch:

Observers say this is may be an early sign that the Israeli government is bowing to international pressure and preparing to surrender the eastern half of Jerusalem to the PA.

If so, then Netanyahu's trip to the US is a prelude to the other shoe dropping.

Technorati Tag: Saladin Security and EU and Jerusalem.