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Russian FM Sergey Lavrov addresses reporters in Tel Aviv on Thursday. (Reuters)
Last update - 00:00 21/03/2008
Israel, Russia finalize deal on supply of armored vehicles to PA
By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press
Tags: PA, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel 

Israel has given its final consent to allow Russia to supply the Palestinian Authority security services in the West Bank with Russian-made armored vehicles, Haaretz has learned.

The agreement, which was consummated in principle this past November, was given the final go-ahead after Moscow agreed to a key Israeli demand to refrain from fitting the vehicles with machine guns, as the Palestinians had hoped.

Late last year, a political brouhaha erupted over reports of the deal, and Olmert was bitterly criticized by right-wing lawmakers for the decision.
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During Thursday's meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia accepted the Israeli demand that the vehicles not be mounted with machine guns as was originally planned. Palestinian police officers will be permitted to carry small arms only.

According to the understandings reached, 25 Russian-manufactured vehicles will be delivered to the Palestinians in the near future. An additional shipment of 25 vehicles will be temporarily stored in Jordan. Depending on the quality of security coordination with the Palestinians, Israel will decide when to transfer the remaining vehicles to the PA at a later stage.

During their meeting, Olmert told Lavrov that the transfer of armored vehicles to the PA had already been approved on the condition that the vehicles would not be equipped with machine guns, and that Lavrov should hammer out the final details of the deal with Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Government sources say the deal hit a snag over Russia's insistence that the machine guns be included on the armored vehicles. Defense officials said that once the Russians changed course and accepted Israel's objections over the machine guns, there was no reason to oppose the transfer.

Russia initially offered to supply the armored vehicles to the PA two years ago, however Israel balked at the request. In explaining their opposition, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service argued that the vehicles would likely be used in any future confrontation with IDF soldiers. As such, the security establishment was fearful that the vehicles could even fall into the hands of Hamas.

Lavrov: Gaza blockade unacceptable
Lavrov said Friday during a visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah that Israel should end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and halt all settlement activity.

After meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Lavrov told a press conference that the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized control of Gaza in June, is unacceptable.

Lavrov added that Russia was very much concerned about Israeli construction on land the Palestinians claim for a future state. "We call for an immediate halt to settlement activity," he said.

On Thursday, Lavrov met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who expressed concern over Russia's continuing supply of sophisticated weaponry to Syria and Iran.

Olmert stressed Israel's fear that these weapons, including advanced anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft missiles, could find their way into the hands of the Lebanon-based guerilla group Hezbollah, supported by Syria and Iran, which has threatened to destroy Israel.

Lavrov responded by saying that Russia has no knowledge of Hezbollah possessing Russian weapons, and that if Israel has any information on the topic, Russia would be happy to look into it
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  1.   Lavrov, the Oiberhuchem 15:56  |  MR 21/03/08
  2.   like anybody cares what russia says 16:00  |  ross 21/03/08
  3.   russian innocense??? 16:11  |  alon frank 21/03/08
  4.   Mr Lavrov 16:11  |  Moshe 21/03/08
  5.   lavrov and russia 16:15  |  marcel 21/03/08
  6.   Pals thank the Euro Immigrants for taking their land 16:20  |  POP 21/03/08
  7.   Russian is preaching what is unacceptable? 16:22  |  Nechama 21/03/08
  8.   Iran, which has threatened to destroy Israel. 16:27  |  chris 21/03/08
  9.   You know what the word Russia means in Hebrew 16:28  |  Nechama 21/03/08
  10.   Russian FM or Russian BS and Jewish Rage 16:34  |  Gershon 21/03/08
  11.   Lavrov, tell me about Grozny ... 16:35  |  Fish 21/03/08
  12.   Show us how you did it in Chechnya 16:42  |  GZLives 21/03/08
  13.   Lavror is right - and holds Gaza`s key 16:45  |  Jeroen de Jager 21/03/08
  14.   Put up or shut up Olmert 16:46  |  Igor 21/03/08
  15.   Russian intervention in Israeli affairs....... 16:47  |  Wise Saba 21/03/08
  16.   Unacceptable 16:50  |  Shmuelshachor 21/03/08
  17.   But missles fired at Israel? No comment 16:54  |  Binyamin Dissen 21/03/08
  18.   Isn`t obvious that the world prefer to live on half truth? 16:54  |  Akram Zekaria 21/03/08
  19.   Tell the Russians were to stick there summit. 16:55  |  Steven 21/03/08
  20.   Right, rockets & mortars neither 16:55  |  Mark Anthony 21/03/08
  21.   Lavrov criticizes Israel? 17:04  |  Ron Day 21/03/08
  22.   this idiot wants another cold war 17:06  |  don 21/03/08
  23.   Olmert replies 17:08  |  Magnify 21/03/08
  24.   Russia continues to support terror! 17:13  |  DR 21/03/08
  25.   The Proper Olmert response 17:18  |  The Archives 21/03/08
  26.   Russian FM 17:19  |  karl 21/03/08
  27.   Typical Russians 17:26  |  IW 21/03/08
  28.   Neither are rockets and mortars from Gaza! 17:33  |  Mark Anthony 21/03/08
  29.   Neither are rockets and mortars from Gaza! 17:33  |  Mark Anthony 21/03/08
  30.   Iran, which has threatened to destroy Israel. 17:43  |  chris 21/03/08
  31.   Lavrov Russias support of terrorist groups UNACCEPTABLE 18:07  |  Mike 21/03/08
  32.   Russia Speaks with a "Forked Tongue" 18:26  |  ROBOCOP 21/03/08
  33.   Let the Russians take care of gaza... 18:28  |  Avi 21/03/08
  34.   Yes, Israel should learn from Russia 18:28  |  steve 21/03/08
  35.   RUSSIA IS AN ENEMY STATE 18:50  |  Jorge 21/03/08
  36.   Rockets targeting Israeli civilians is what is unnaceptable &.... 19:01  |  bernrd ross 21/03/08
  37.   What is this, a Purim joke? 19:01  |  alan 21/03/08
  38.   This Subject 19:11  |  Alfred 21/03/08
  39.   Arming PA 19:31  |  Brod 21/03/08
  40.   another olmert blunder 19:36  |  zionist forever 21/03/08
  41.   Immoral deal! 19:46  |  Vital 21/03/08
  42.   Olmert Again Is Too Timid for Israel`s Benefit 20:18  |  Dave Levy 21/03/08
  43.   Lavrov should know ! 20:35  |  Jean Van Daem 21/03/08
  44.   Lavrov..came to do business. 20:36  |  Stephen. 21/03/08
  45.   ross- same goes for Israel 22:05  |  European 21/03/08
  46.   No weapons for the arabs , No negotiations. 22:07  |  Donald A. Rosenberg, 21/03/08
  47.   Gershon- Reparations? All about the money eh? 22:07  |  Washington 21/03/08
  48.   # 42 Dave Levy..You are right... 22:22  |  Stephen. 21/03/08
  49.   Olmert is a traitor 22:25  |  leo 21/03/08
  50.   #24 Say DR, exactly who has the 22:31  |  ballistic 21/03/08
  51.   STUPID DECISION 23:22  |  Joey 21/03/08
  52.   What???? 23:43  |  dan 21/03/08
  53.   Hamas will surely get it all 23:43  |  Avi 21/03/08
  54.   These will be used to run over Jews 23:44  |  nunya 21/03/08
  55.   To Leo: Let Them Negotiate Beverly Hills 00:17  |  Dave Levy 22/03/08
  56.   Russian FM calls Israel to end Gaza blockade 00:22  |  Elie 22/03/08
  57.   Red Lavrov, the new Gromiko... 00:46  |  Kevin 22/03/08
  58.   34# Joge. Russia is an anti-semtic country. 01:26  |  Akram Zekaria 22/03/08
  59.   HOPE CHINA ATTACKS RUSSIA SOME DAY! 01:37  |  20x20 22/03/08
  60.   What about the aftermarket?? 02:20  |  Webster 22/03/08
  61.   Olmert-Now give them the Atom Bomb 03:03  |  I.M.Knotfooled 22/03/08
  62.   This is why I left Israel 03:15  |  Dov 22/03/08
  63.   Refitting armoured vehicles 03:39  |  Avrum 22/03/08
  64.   Dov...good riddance! 07:19  |  Palestinian 22/03/08
  65.   Olmert use your head! 08:02  |  The Archives 22/03/08
  66.   Russia cannot be trusted. 08:04  |  Jean Van Daem 22/03/08
  67.   Israel and Russia to supply Armored vechicles to PA 10:03  |  Millicent 22/03/08
  68.   #65, The Archives 10:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/03/08
  69.   No brutal OCCUPATION 10:52  |  Dav 22/03/08
  70.   they will be monitored, if terror rides in em,they`ll melt . 12:24  |  no worries 22/03/08
  71.   mccain and israel 12:44  |  alex 22/03/08
  72.   no big deal 13:32  |  rm 22/03/08
  73.   Palestinian- WHY 15:25  |  Avrum 22/03/08
  74.   The nightmare has started, back to 1948! 15:36  |  de Jong 22/03/08
  75.   Rationale thinking and Justice (Israel & PA) 16:09  |  Samuel 22/03/08
  76.   no big deal 2nd try 16:25  |  rm 22/03/08
  77.   McCain and Israel 18:58  |  bruce 22/03/08
  78.   A Troyan horse.. 19:54  |  Vital 22/03/08
  79.   The Trojan horse. (2nd). 20:10  |  Vital 22/03/08
  80.   Russian armored vehicles to PA 00:33  |  Gerald A. Honigman 23/03/08
  81.   No need to worry 00:40  |  Ibn Musa 23/03/08
  82.   # 60. Webster. It will make a nice F16 target. 00:41  |  Stephen. 23/03/08
  83.   War Supremacy Cult and Resolve 03:38  |  Zev 23/03/08
  84.   The Russia that had intent to invade in 67 18:45  |  ronnbo 01/04/08
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