US weapons prompt Hamas arms race?
"The United States for the past few days has been providing arms to militant groups from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party to bolster it against rival Hamas factions, WND has learned.
According to Israeli and Palestinian security officials, the US weapons shipments have prompted an arms race with Hamas, which has been smuggling into the Gaza Strip larger than usual quantities of weaponry from neighboring Egypt.......
....According to Palestinian officials, the US last week provided Abbas' Force 17 security detail with 250 new assault rifles and 5,000 rounds of ammunition. Israel aided in the delivery of the weapons to Force 17 militants in Gaza associated with Fatah strongman Mahmoud Dahlan, the officials said. The Palestinian officials said the US has provided at least 1,000 rifles this month and that more weapons shipments are expected this week. Force 17 serves as Abbas' personal security detail and as de facto police units in the West Bank and Gaza.......
Olmert: I did it to help Abu-Mazen
WND reported earlier this month US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated in a meeting with Abbas that the US would fulfill an earlier pledge to bolster Force 17 with American training and with new weapons, including 6,000 assault rifles. The US reportedly aims to enhance security forces associated with Abbas against Hamas in Gaza......
Last month, the New York Times reported the US proposed expanding Abbas' Force 17 from 3,500 men to 6,000 as part of a USD 26 million plan to strengthen the Palestinian leader.
The Associated Press, Haaretz and Israel's leading Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported new training facilities for Force 17 are slated to be set up in Jericho and in Gaza, at a cost of USD 2 million each, according to the US proposal. Palestinian sources told Haaretz the training of select numbers of special Force 17 forces started already in September under the guidance of an American military instructor.
The last known weapons transfer to Force 17 took place in May and reportedly consisted of 3,000 assault rifles and more than 1 million rounds of ammunition.
At first, the US, Israel and the PA denied the reports of the weapons transfer, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in June announced he had approved the shipment of US weapons and ammunition, explaining the transfer was meant for Abbas' personal protection.
"I did this because we are running out of time and we need to help Abu Mazen," Olmert told reporters......"
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