Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 24, 2008 Adar2 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:06 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israel, Russia finalize deal for PA armored cars By Amos Harel After several delays, Israel last week gave its final consent to a deal to provide Palestinian Authority security services in the West Bank with Russian-made armored vehicles. Under the deal, 25 vehicles will be delivered to security services controlled by PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Advertisement The vehicles will not be fitted with machine guns as originally planned, due to opposition from Israel's military establishment. Israel must approve the entry of all armored vehicles into the West Bank. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reported on the final inking of the deal to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting in Jerusalem on Thursday. Olmert approved the deal last November, but right-wing parties slammed the decision and military officials criticized the move to permit machine guns to be mounted on the vehicles. As a result, Israel postponed its final approval. The PA wants the armored vehicles to help improve its control over the West Bank and to deter its rival, Hamas. Israeli security sources told Haaretz that the military establishment agreed to let the vehicles be delivered when agreement was reached to forgo the machine guns and to restrict Palestinian police officers to carrying small, personal weapons only. Under the agreement, another 25 vehicles will be stored in Jordan, to be delivered depending on Israel's satisfaction with how the first round of vehicles are used. Nadav Shragai adds: The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel responded, "The prime minister's decision to transfer the armored vehicles to the PA is a repeat of past mistakes. It is reasonable to assume that the weapons Israel gave to the PA were used by the terrorist who murdered the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva students; now the government will also transport the terrorists to their destination in total security." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Getting online, already A gov't official is planning the first Web site 'to connect all Jews around the world'. Naim to meet you French-Israeli folk singer Yael Naim isn't worried about becoming too commercial.

Today Online Hezbollah: We have proof Israel killed Mughniyah Responses: 139 Gideon Levy: Blind int'l friendship enables Israel to kill, settle Responses: 151 Editorial: Swiss gas deal with Iran a disgrace, like WWII neutrality Responses: 137 Barak to Cheney: Iran is a threat to the region, the world Responses: 98 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad Responses: 73 More Headlines 03:00 Israel shifts stance on agreement with Hezbollah 03:00 Study: 'Big Brother' monitoring alive and well in Israeli workplace 22:52 IAF official: All F16I pilots were exposed to carcinogenic substance 19:00 Taibeh resident jailed for 9 years over role in foiled terror attack 01:28 Laser is future of anti-missile technology, despite doubts 23:45 Health Ministry requests urgent funds for refugee health care 02:09 U.S. Jewish movement embraces mixed marriages, reaches out to kids 16:36 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad 02:43 Meretz in 'twilight of its years' according to own audit 15:59 Shi'ite mourners hail Mughniyah as martyr at Beirut gravesite 22:18 PM: Israel to send back refugees who infiltrate from Sinai 21:40 Barak to Cheney: Iran is threat to region, world 21:08 Sarkozy's ex-wife due to wed Jewish multi-millionaire in N.Y. Previous Editions Select Day 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar

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