By RIA Novosti
Tel Aviv : Israel has approved the supply of 25 armoured vehicles to Palestinian security forces in the West Bank ahead of the proposed Middle East peace conference, senior officials said Wednesday.
“As part of a policy of supporting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and strengthening the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) security forces, Israel has allowed them to purchase 25 armoured vehicles for deployment in the West Bank city of Nablus,” a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said without specifying a timeframe for the supplies.
The decision comes despite concerns among Israeli security services that Islamist group Hamas may eventually get hold of the military supply, as they did in June by taking control of the Gaza Strip from the rival Fatah movement, controlled by Abbas.
According to Israeli intelligence, a large number of militant cells are located in Nablus, where the PNA forces took steps to tighten security this month.
If security efforts in Nablus prove successful, Israel may consider the delivery of another 25 armoured vehicles to be deployed in other West Bank cities.
“If additional Palestinian forces are sent to other cities, Israel would approve the transfer of another 25 vehicles,” the official said.
Two year ago, Russia had offered to transfer its BRDM-2 armoured personnel carriers to the PNA, but until now the Israeli military and intelligence have been opposing the offer saying the equipment could end up in the hands of Islamist militants.
Earlier, Israel had announced to release 450 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture, and now it came up with this new offer ahead of the Middle East conference scheduled Nov 27 in Annapolis, Maryland.
According to the US State Department, more than 40 countries and international institutions have been invited to attend the event, which the Bush administration regards as a key step toward the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.