Israel approves arms to Palestinians
JERUSALEM - Israel said Wednesday it had authorized a shipment of 25 armored vehicles and 1,000 rifles to bolster a promised Palestinian police crackdown on armed militants in the West Bank.
Approval of the shipment, which Russia had proposed two years ago but was stalled by Israeli opposition, was aimed at building trust with the Palestinian Authority’s leaders as they and Israel prepare to restart formal peace negotiations.
Israel also will allow the Gaza Strip to resume strawberry and flower exports blocked since September. The exports earn $14 million a year for the impoverished territory, according to the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce.
Both decisions were announced as leaders prepared for a U.S.-sponsored peace conference next week in Annapolis, Md.
Palestinian and U.S. officials have pressed Israel for concessions to improve the climate at the gathering, which is intended to muster Arab nations’ support for the new peace effort.
Israeli opposition leaders and the country’s internal security service, Shin Bet, objected to the Russian shipment, arguing that vehicles and weapons eventually could fall into the hands of Hamas and other militant groups fighting Israel.
Hamas gunmen seized control of Gaza from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah-led police forces in June, capturing large quantities of weapons that other countries had supplied to the police with Israel’s approval.
Criticizing the new shipment, right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu told Army Radio, “We will one day see Hamas sitting on the armored vehicles, firing at us.”
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert authorized the arms deal, which also includes 2 million rounds of ammunition
Hamas’ armed wing branded the promised shipment a “Zionist gift.”