Arafat signs new judiciary bill

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today signed a law recognising the independence of the judiciary, after ignoring the bill for 18 months.

Arafat’s critics welcomed the move, but said many more steps were needed. Arafat is to address the Palestinian legislature later today.

In the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinians marked ‘‘Naqba Day,’’ the anniversary of their uprooting as a result of Israel’s creation in 1948.

Arafat is trying to re-establish control over his Palestinian Authority, which was badly weakened by Israel’s six-week military offensive in the West Bank.

In the wake of Operation Defensive Shield there has been growing dissatisfaction with Arafat and his aides, particularly Mohammed Rashid, an ethnic Kurd who is believed to control Arafat’s considerable slush funds.

Rashid was involved in negotiating the deals that led to Arafat’s release from 34 days of confinement by Israel and the deportation of 13 Palestinian militiamen from Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity last week.

Arafat has been widely criticised for agreeing to send the men into exile - a first in the long conflict with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who wants to sideline the Palestinian leader, said yesterday that he would only engage in peace talks once reforms have been made and all attacks on Israelis have stopped.