Jon Elmer has been pretty much the only Canadian journalist covering the evolution and implications of the controversial program overseen by Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. Security Coordinator for the Israel-Palestinian Authority. In 2008, he wrote this key article for Briarpatch, "Fighting in the Gaza Ghetto," followed by 'U.S. Takes Aim Over Jordan's Shoulder' last November for IPS. Today, Elmer has broken further details in a story for Al Jazeera, ''A prescription for civil war':
"Abu Abdullah has never been charged with a crime, but he has been arrested by Palestinian security forces so many times in the past two years that he has lost count...The arrests are part of a wider plan being executed by Palestinian security forces - trained and funded by American and European backers - to crush opposition and consolidate the Fatah-led government's grip on power in the West Bank...Under the auspices of Lieutenant-General Keith Dayton, the US security coordinator, these security forces receive hands-on training from Canadian, British and Turkish military personnel at a desert training centre in Jordan. The programme has been carefully coordinated with Israeli security officials..."
Although the piece only contains a passing reference to Canada's role, the Canadian contribution, dubbed "Operation Proteus," is considered to be integral by the Americans (and, by the Canadians to foreign policy interests in the region, and Canada-U.S. relations). Here are some snippets from Dayton's May 7, 2009 speech to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (.pdf):
"My name is Keith Dayton, and I head a small team of Americans, Canadians, British, and a Turkish officer who were sent to the Middle East to assist in bringing some order to the Palestinian Authority's security forces."
"[D]o keep in mind as I go along, it is not just the United States, but Canada, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, who are working on the task at hand."
"As I said earlier, we are a multinational team. This is important. U.S. personnel have travel restrictions when operating in the West Bank. But our British and Canadian members do not."
"The Canadians, who are going up to about eighteen people, are organized in teams we call road warriors, and they move around the West Bank daily visiting
Palestinian security leaders, gauging local conditions, and working with real
Palestinians in sensing the mood on the ground."
"Canada provides the team with highly proficient Arab-Canadian translators who
relate directly with the people. The Canadians and the British are my eyes and
ears. And when I meet with Palestinian security leaders and Israeli military
leaders, for that matter, I bring the Canadians and the British with me. Being
multinational is a very strong point."
"And I will tell you that what I saw, and what I get reports on from my Canadians and British who travel more than I do, is that the transformation in what was arguably the politically most difficult city in the Palestinian territories has been profound."
"If we are to have a Palestinian state, there is also serious work ahead on borders and crossings management, on which the Canadians on my team are in the lead."
"The continuous presence in the region of a small but dedicated team of American, Canadian, Turkish, and British officers who work with all sides, who live there, and who understand the terrain in a military sense is beginning to pay off. We're building new facts on the ground from the bottom up, and we have genuine partners in the Kingdom of Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and the State of Israel."
Last October, no one (outside of the Israeli media) reported that Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Walt Naynczyk, embarked on a high level visit to Israel, where he met with his counterparts in the Israeli Defense Forces, and visited with members of the "road warriors," Op. Proteus. (A Canadian Newsstand database search yields zero hits regarding this militarily & politically significant visit).
Also see, 'CIA working with Palestinian security agents.'