JERUSALEM - Israel's military intelligence chief praised Mahmud Abbas on Thursday for his efforts to disarm militants, contradicting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who has charged that the Palestinian leader was not doing enough.
"There is determined activity on his part in terms of his aims and intentions," Aharon Zeevi told public radio.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas) has changed the people in his office, has limited incitement and made changes in the legal sphere."
Earlier this week, Sharon told visiting US senators that Abbas was "completely avoiding taking significant steps to fight the terrorist organisations".
But Zeevi openly contradicted Sharon, pointing out that Abbas only recently reshuffled the leadership of his security services and that they should be allowed more time to change their approach.
"He has completed the reforms of the security services and has urged security activity against the rockets, we are seeing more efforts in this area," Zeevi said.
"He is succeeding to maintain the calm, even if it is fragile."
The head of military intelligence said Abbas was using tactics of persuasion and should not be expected to wage a head-on battle against Islamist fundamentalist movement Hamas, given its political and military might.
"He is serious about resolving the problem of the wanted men in order to secure a renewal of the process of transferring the cities.
"To the best of my knowledge, he has fulfilled his part in Jericho and is trying to do the same in Tulkarem.
On Wednesday, Israel froze an agreement to hand over responsibility for security in other parts of the West Bank, saying no such transfers should take place until the Palestinians move to disarm militant groups.
05/05/2005 07:03 GMT