JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Major General Aharon Ze'evi said Thursday that he believed the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is gradually reining in militants.

    "PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas does mean to rein in militants despite recent claims that the PNA was not doing enough to fight terrorists and abide by commitments reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in February," the intelligence chief told Israel Radio.

    Abbas has ordered security forces recently to maintain a ceasefire with Israel.

    "As far as I know, the Palestinians have completed gathering the weapons of wanted militants in Jericho," Ze'evi said. Jericho is the first West Bank city transferred to the Palestinian security control, followed by Tulkarm.

    "Abbas intends to solve the problem of wanted militants in order to bring about the transfer of security control over more West Bank towns," he said.

    The handover of the remaining three West Bank cities have been put on hold after Israel said the Palestinian side has failed to rein in militants in Jericho and Tulkarm.

    The PNA's main weakness originates from the fact that radical movement Hamas still holds a lot of power in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to the point of becoming a "parallel authority within the PNA," the chief said.

    He said the combination between Hamas' military and political strength in the Gaza Strip and a wide street support it enjoys strengthens the existence of this parallel authority.

    "Abu Mazen (Abbas) understands he has to deal with this fact," he said, adding the Palestinian leader has yet to face the militant group with force.
 
    "So far he has avoided direct confrontation with Hamas, preferring persuasion and explanation, which have won him a temporary and fragile lull in violence, but the fact is that this lull is holding," he said.

    But Abbas was unable and "had no intention of using force against Hamas and to collect its weapons," Ze'evi said. "He might be able to do this at the end of the process. I believe that Abbas understands that he can not start the process (of weapons-collection) at this point," he said.

    Ze'evi warned, however, that the recent period of relative calm was a temporary one which could change in the near future depending on the political situation.

    "It is in the Palestinian interest to maintain the cease-fire at least until after elections for the legislative council in July. I believe it will hold until after the disengagement," he said.

    He said that Abbas was negotiating with Hamas on delaying July's elections until the end of the year in exchange for Hamas' participation in a broad-based government until then.

    Ze'evi rebuffed reports that Abbas has done nothing so far to abide by his commitments and make reforms in the PNA.

    "Abbas has completed reforms and started fighting Qassam fire and terrorists. The heads of the Palestinian security services were replaced only last month, and they should be given some time to change things," he said. Enditem