Abbas plans radical reshuffle of Palestinian intelligence services

DEBKAfile Reports: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is taking the opportunity of the change of government and its head to execute a reshuffle at the top level of the PA’s intelligence services. Our sources have learned that General Intelligence Director Gen. Majd Faraj, a close associate of Abbas, is tagged as the Authority’s national security adviser, to be replaced by Col. Khaled Abu Yaman. Zakaria Musalah is named head of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service and Amin  Fawalaha is to be responsible for liaison between Palestinian and Israeli intelligence agencies. Col Ayad Abbas is named director of the finances and budget for Palestinian intelligence services. It is too soon to determine how these changes bear on the interaction between the Palestinian and Israeli intelligence services. The situation will become clearer after the appointment of a new Palestinian prime minister in Ramallah.