RAMALLAH, July 31: Palestinian authorities say they are unable to prevent a rise in crime since the Israeli army reoccupied their cities and hampered the activities of their police.

“There is a clear rise in criminal activity. There have been nine murders in the last 10 days, including four in Ramallah,” a high-ranking judicial official said, requesting anonymity.

Since the launching of operation Determined Path by the Israeli army on June 19 and the reoccupation of seven of the eight main West Bank autonomous towns, some 800,000 Palestinians have been placed under curfew.

For Assad Mubarak, chief prosecutor in the West Bank, authorities are unable to keep track of the crimes in the occupied Palestinian cities and villages because of “the presence of Israeli tanks.”

Ibrahim Dughmeh, Palestinian justice minister, believes increased poverty and the Israeli blockade around the West Bank towns are behind this rise in crime.

Mubarak explained that Palestinian security officials fear they will be targeted by the Israeli army when they perform their duties.

“Sometimes, the prosecutor goes to the scene of the crime with a few police officers dressed in civilian cloths. They do their work like thieves fearing the occupation forces will arrest them,” Mubarak added.—AFP