Israel may allow Egypt to transfer arms to Fatah
THE JERUSALEM POST Jun. 7, 2007
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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."

Herb Keinon contributed to the report.