Posted on 06/07/2007 7:41:17 AM PDT by SJackson
Israel is considering authorizing the transfer of millions of bullets and thousands of Kalashnikov rifles from Egypt to forces in the Gaza Strip loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Officials said that while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's scheduled meeting with Abbas in Jericho on Thursday was canceled, Israel was still considering allowing the transfer of the weaponry to Abbas's Force 17 "Presidential Guard," as part of efforts to strengthen Fatah in face of the growing Hamas threat in Gaza.
High-ranking defense officials told the Post Wednesday that security chiefs in Abbas's office passed on a "weapons shopping list" to Gen. Keith Dayton, the US security coordinator to Israel and the Gaza Strip, in the middle of May, asking for millions of bullets and thousands of rifle magazines, hand grenades and Kalashnikov automatic rifles.
The officials said Dayton then passed the list on to the Egyptians, who would need to provide the arms and ammunition, as well as to Israel's Defense Ministry, which would need to authorize the transfer.
The defense officials said that Dayton personally recommended that Israel permit the weapons supply. Two weeks ago, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on the Middle East in Washington, Dayton stressed the importance of American efforts to bolster forces loyal to Fatah and said further help was necessary.
"We are entering a rough patch," Dayton said in reference to the recent escalation in factional fighting in Gaza, "but all is not lost and our regional partners share that sentiment. However, it is critical that those who support the legitimate authority and forces represented by President Abbas receive the critical assistance they need."
While officials predicted that Olmert would eventually authorize the weapons transfer, not everyone in the defense establishment supports allowing the flow of more weaponry into the Gaza Strip. One person who does favor the idea is Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh.
Other officials are opposed. They say Fatah does not need additional weapons to be able to challenge Hamas. According to one high-ranking official, while the weapons would be delivered to Fatah, they would eventually find their way to Hamas.
"The last thing needed are more weapons in the Gaza Strip," said one official closely involved in the deal. The official said Fatah was split into several groups. "What good would it do to allow Fatah to get weapons if they won't be used against Hamas?" the official asked.
Israeli officials stressed that the weapons would not be transferred by Israel to the PA. "We do not physically supply the Palestinians with weapons," an official in Defense Minister Amir Peretz's office said. "We just allow it to happen."
A senior Western official claimed Wednesday that "there is no US component to this issue."
Israel is considering authorizing the transfer of millions of bullets and thousands of Kalashnikov rifles from Egypt to forces in the Gaza Strip loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Officials said that while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's scheduled meeting with Abbas in Jericho on Thursday was canceled, Israel was still considering allowing the transfer of the weaponry to Abbas's Force 17 "Presidential Guard," as part of efforts to strengthen Fatah in face of the growing Hamas threat in Gaza.
High-ranking defense officials told the Post Wednesday that security chiefs in Abbas's office passed on a "weapons shopping list" to Gen. Keith Dayton, the US security coordinator to Israel and the Gaza Strip, in the middle of May, asking for millions of bullets and thousands of rifle magazines, hand grenades and Kalashnikov automatic rifles.
The officials said Dayton then passed the list on to the Egyptians, who would need to provide the arms and ammunition, as well as to Israel's Defense Ministry, which would need to authorize the transfer.
The defense officials said that Dayton personally recommended that Israel permit the weapons supply. Two weeks ago, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on the Middle East in Washington, Dayton stressed the importance of American efforts to bolster forces loyal to Fatah and said further help was necessary.
"We are entering a rough patch," Dayton said in reference to the recent escalation in factional fighting in Gaza, "but all is not lost and our regional partners share that sentiment. However, it is critical that those who support the legitimate authority and forces represented by President Abbas receive the critical assistance they need."
While officials predicted that Olmert would eventually authorize the weapons transfer, not everyone in the defense establishment supports allowing the flow of more weaponry into the Gaza Strip. One person who does favor the idea is Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh.
Other officials are opposed. They say Fatah does not need additional weapons to be able to challenge Hamas. According to one high-ranking official, while the weapons would be delivered to Fatah, they would eventually find their way to Hamas.
"The last thing needed are more weapons in the Gaza Strip," said one official closely involved in the deal. The official said Fatah was split into several groups. "What good would it do to allow Fatah to get weapons if they won't be used against Hamas?" the official asked.
Israeli officials stressed that the weapons would not be transferred by Israel to the PA. "We do not physically supply the Palestinians with weapons," an official in Defense Minister Amir Peretz's office said. "We just allow it to happen."
A senior Western official claimed Wednesday that "there is no US component to this issue."
Israel - crazy like a fox!
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"there is no US component to this issue."
Other than taking the order, supplying the arms, and pressuring Israel to allow the deliveries, noe of which is "official" of course. Wonder if Hamas will hijack this arms delivery as they did the last.
This sounds like a legitimate reason to deny the weapons to Fatah. Anybody over there have any idea if it is plausible?
They’re not being used against the Israelis... The Pali cowards use rockets and suicide bombers for that.
The weapons are for Fatah and Hamas to use on each other; dead Hamas, dead Fatah, whats not to like?
I love it. But, is there a conceivably plausible way that these weapons will get transferred to Hamas, to be used against IDF soldiers, should they need to invade Gaza or the West Bank someday?
Hamas will use everything it has against Israel and the IDF at every opportunity. So will Fatah. They just don’t use what they have very effectively. They’re more effective against each other - and that is how they’re going to use the weapons for the most part.
I’d be worried if these were Kornet ATGMs, but not AK-47s.
I certainly hope it goes that way. At some point, Israel will have to mop up the palis, but it will be easier if they manage to kill substantial numbers of each other off, first.
Ain’t gonna happen. Ever noticed how the UNs and all the “powers what is” seem to be dedicated to keeping the status quo, no matter how bad it is?
This Israelis “ought” to annex the Golan, West Bank and Gaza strip and expel the Palis. The Sudan “ought” to be pacified in the manner of the old Colonial Armies. Kosovo “ought” to be handed to Serbia. We “ought” to secure our Southern Border against invading barbarians.
None of it is going to happen, though.
I’m afraid you’re right, but in the heat of a really hot world war, I expect that Israel will do the things it needs to do, as long as some other battle is making the necessary headlines.
I favor the delivery of weapons to Gaza - and to all parties there. Single-use weapons, used immediately upon delivery, like cluster bombs, napalm, bunker-buster bombs, helicopter-fired rockets and laser-guided anti-armor munitions, etc. Preferably delivered as a surprise gift, all at once. Then they won’t even need to worry about the AKs.
Already done under Begin in the early 1980's.
...West Bank and Gaza strip and expel the Palis.
Good idea. Israel had its chance 40 years ago. The next time may be when the Moschiach comes.
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