Israel Authorizes More Weapons for PA Forces
kalashnikov
General Keith Dayton: "For the first time, I think it's fair to say that the Palestinian security forces feel they are on a winning team."
In recent weeks, Israel has dismantled the large majority of checkpoints throughout Judea and Samaria, in an attempt to allow Palestinian Authority Arabs free movement between PA cities, as demanded by the United States. And in yet another "gesture" on the eve of what could be a critical meeting between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell Monday, Barak has authorized the transfer of 1,000 Kalashnikov rifles to forces controlled by PA chief Mahmoud Abbas.
The weapons transfer was reported Monday, just one day after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insisted that any future PA state in Judea and Samaria must be demilitarized.
Abbas had requested the weapons earlier this year, and Barak agreed – but the transfer was held up for several weeks while Israel recorded ballistics information on the weapons. This way, the IDF will be able to determine if any of them are used in a terror attack, a Defense Ministry official said.
PA officials claimed ignorance of the weapons transfer.
This is the second major weapons transfer for the PA this year. Several months ago, Russia donated fifty BTR-70 armored vehicles to the PA; they are being prepared in Jordan and delivery to PA forces is expected soon. Israel has authorized the transfer but opposes the installation of heavy machine guns on the vehicles that the PA is demanding.
Israeli officials quoted several weeks ago said that Jerusalem would not allow the PA to have "heavy weapons" because, as essentially a police force which is supposed to ensure order, PA troops had no need of such weapons. %ad%
"We will allow them to have a force with light weapons like the one that the US is currently building for them in the West Bank," an official quoted in the Jerusalem Post said. "We will not allow them to have a military that puts Israel in danger."
The BTR-70 have been used in combat since the 1970s, and are capable of carrying high-powered machine guns and other weapons. The PA says it needs the vehicles and weapons in order to effectively fight Hamas.
Dayton: PA Troops a Winning Team
PA troops will also be able to use the Kalashnikovs and armored vehicles more effectively than they might have been able to in the past, thanks to the high-level troop training program directed by U.S. General Keith Dayton. Dayton, whose official title is U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, has already trained over 2,000 PA soldiers in advanced combat tactics, and he plans on training an additional 2,000.
Speaking at a Washington think-tank last month, Dayton was quoted as saying that his work has created a "new man" among PA residents. "For the first time, I think it's fair to say that the Palestinian security forces feel they are on a winning team," he said.
Jericho-area Jews Concerned
Meanwhile, residents of Israeli villages in the Jordan Valley say they feel "very threatened" by the establishment of a new, large training base for PA forces that has been set up on the hills at the northern edge of Jericho. The camp is designed to train troops in Dayton's program; currently that training is taking place in Jordan.
The camp was funded by the U.S. and built with the agreement of Israel. The base is located in PA territory, between Jericho and the town of Ujja.
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