Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 27, 2008 Adar2 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:56 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
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
Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (Maya Levin / Jini)
Last update - 08:32 27/03/2008
Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Barak, Israel, Fayyad, PA

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday he had agreed to the transfer of new vehicles and equipment to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces as well as to the easing of travel restrictions for West Bank residents.

Citing fear of militant infiltrations, however, Barak signaled he would continue to resist Palestinian and Western demands for mass removals of checkpoints and roadblocks that restrict travel and trade within the West Bank.

"The list of steps we intend to take to make life easier for the Palestinians, without relinquishing our overriding security responsibility, is important in moving the negotiations forward and maintaining a positive atmosphere," Barak told reporters before talks at his Tel Aviv home with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Advertisement

Israel hopes the measures, announced ahead of a weekend visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, will help blunt complaints it was not doing enough to bolster U.S.-backed peace talks and Fayyad's "law and order" drive in the West Bank.

Barak said the roster included equipment for Abbas's forces, including his elite Presidential Guard, and new vehicles, some of them armored. Barak's office said he discussed the items with Fayyad but no details were provided regarding types or amounts.

Previous shipments for Abbas' forces have been supplied by European and Arab donors, and were at times held up by Israel.

"The talks [with Barak] focused on implementing the road map obligations as well as security and economic conditions in the Palestinian areas," Fayyad's office said in a statement, referring to a 2003 U.S.-sponsored plan for a Palestinian state.

A Palestinian official said Barak was "forthcoming" on issues like roadblocks and deployment of Abbas' forces. But the official said Fayyad would not immediately elaborate further, preferring to see if Israel was serious about implementation.

Earlier Wednesday, Opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision to transfer additional security equipment to the PA's forces.

"The idea that we will give guns, armored vehicles, and ammunition to the Palestinian Authority as it exists today - and these weapons will even protect us - is not only mistaken, it is foolish," the Likud Party chairman told a Jerusalem conference on public policy. "These weapons will be turned against IDF soldiers far sooner than we thing."

"The idea to hand our security over to the Palestinian Authority has failed in the past in Gaza, and it will fail in Judea and Samaria," he continued. "The weaponry that is currently in Hamas' hands came in part from our caches. We need to prevent a similar thing from happening in the West Bank."

The defense minister announced on Tuesday that he has approved the entry of 600 Palestinian policemen into Jenin, where they will engage in routine law enforcement. The policemen are currently undergoing training in Jordan.

In addition, Palestinian police will receive Kalashnikov rifles, rubber bullets and night-vision equipment, according to Army Radio.

The American officers responsible for monitoring Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the road map peace plan recently criticized the Palestinian Authority's counterterrorism efforts.

However, they have also demanded clarifications from Israel about its failure to carry out its road map obligations, which include a freeze on settlement construction and the dismantling of illegal West Bank outposts.

Barak and Fayyad meet regularly to discuss security issues, and their talks are an integral part of U.S.-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which the sides hope will produce a final agreement this year.

Palestinian officials said Tuesday that Israel should do more to ease life for Palestinians, such as removing roadblocks, dismantling West Bank settlement outposts or releasing prisoners.

As part of the peace process, the Palestinians have pledged to crack down on militant groups.

While Fayyad says he is capable of reining in gunmen, Israel has maintained a large troop presence throughout the West Bank since fighting began in 2000, saying Palestinian forces are not yet ready to take charge.

Related articles:
  • PA fails in fight against terror, U.S. officials determine
  • Investing in Fayyad
  • Palestinian PM: Israel has failed to keep 'road map' promises
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Graphic footage
    Israel posts clips on YouTube of Jerusalem yeshiva terror attack.
    Remembering Gaza
    Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.
      1.   Rabin jerk again,former generals like Barak should be booted out 12:08  |  Absolute Sweden 26/03/08
      2.   Israel agrees to kill more Jews 13:28  |  Simcha 26/03/08
      3.   Will you never learn! Dumb, Dumb and Dummer 14:15  |  Jack 26/03/08
      4.   They us the smae BS excuse each time and the American 14:20  |  r 26/03/08
      5.   Insane! 14:48  |  Ron 26/03/08
      6.   Seems supid, nah it is stupid, all the haters are happy 16:12  |  Robert/Montreal 26/03/08
      7.   Barak agrees to arm the enemy .. SIMPLY BRILLIANT .. NOT 16:39  |  Barak Who? 26/03/08
      8.   Buying the bullet that will kill you 16:42  |  KUTW 26/03/08
      9.   Well, here we go again! 18:16  |  Mike 26/03/08
      10.   Sounds eerily familiar. 18:33  |  Pssd off American. 26/03/08
      11.   the road map revived 18:52  |  MR 26/03/08
      12.   YOU PEOPLE ARE RIDICULOUS 19:15  |  johnj 26/03/08
      13.   aiding the enemy 19:19  |  Connie 26/03/08
      14.   Appointment of camp `kapo`s 19:55  |  American Patriot 26/03/08
      15.   Barak on security material to PA 20:02  |  Ray 26/03/08
      16.   So..This is where the "Donor Money" is going.! 20:06  |  Stephen. 26/03/08
      17.   In turn PA will supply Israel with more casualties and prisoners 20:28  |  Sal 26/03/08
      18.   U.S. Controlled Barak/Israeli Leaders GUILTY of TREASON! 20:29  |  Linda Rivera 26/03/08
      19.   Israel to supply PA forces with security equipment 21:06  |  Alexandre 26/03/08
      20.   Bibi promotes stagnation... 23:01  |  Esther 26/03/08
      21.   Re Absolute #1 23:07  |  Esther 26/03/08
      22.   Apt response to posters on this talkback... 23:15  |  Esther 26/03/08
      23.   Of course Nethanyahu would 23:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/03/08
      24.   Shas must be held accountable for propping up this loa 01:44  |  Chaim 27/03/08
      25.   Second try against Haaretz censor 01:56  |  MR 27/03/08
      26.   Leftie Esther,your Evita,Lea Rabin on her death bed was scoldin 01:57  |  Absolute Sweden 27/03/08
      27.   #17 Esther 02:18  |  MR 27/03/08
      28.   Barak is giving avay the house again ? 03:18  |  Theresa 27/03/08
      29.   Netanyaho gave the PA weapons in 1997 himself. 05:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/03/08
      30.   WHEN DID AIDING THE ENEMY IN WARTIME, STOP BEING TREASON? 06:07  |  TRUTHFUL 27/03/08
      31.   Olmert & Barak Are traitors They Should Be Tried For Treason 06:21  |  Kipperraes 27/03/08
      32.   Olmert & Barak Are traitors They Should Be Tried For Treason 06:21  |  Kipperraes 27/03/08
      33.   PLO always rejected all peace agreements that left Israel intact. 07:11  |  Jean Van Daem 27/03/08
      34.   ARMING OUR ENEMY!!! PERFIDY!! 07:36  |  Jack 27/03/08
      35.   Israels supporters in self-panic mode 07:50  |  Natallie Durson 27/03/08
      36.   Re MR #22 07:52  |  Esther 27/03/08
      37.   Hamas will have new equipment 08:04  |  Zev 27/03/08
      38.   Criminal 08:19  |  Gilad 27/03/08
      39.   Backing the wrong horse again? 08:24  |  Dangalil 27/03/08
      40.   Barak confirms transfer of Armored Vechicles to PA 08:28  |  Millicent 27/03/08
      41.   What UTTER STUPIDITY.... With KADIMA ARABS HAVE WON. 08:41  |  Dagma 27/03/08
      42.   Stupid & dangerous decision. 08:45  |  Wise Saba 27/03/08
      43.   I Wonder Why? 08:45  |  MiddleStanian 27/03/08
      44.   israel an armed fortress! 08:48  |  lakshmi 27/03/08
      45.   Transfer of armored vehicles to PA 08:53  |  Scott L. Havsy 27/03/08
      46.   Hands UP! for Natanyahu...... 09:12  |  Dolly 27/03/08
      47.   To Esther # 17 - So what new kind of fBOMBS 09:18  |  Dagma 27/03/08
      48.   Re Gilad #32 10:48  |  Esther 27/03/08
      49.   Re Millicent #34 10:51  |  Esther 27/03/08
      50.   Re Dolly 11:04  |  Esther 27/03/08
      51.   Come ON! Barak you`re wasting leverage 11:59  |  The Archives 27/03/08
      52.   What the...? 13:04  |  American Christian 27/03/08
      53.   barak 13:13  |  ernie 27/03/08
      54.   Ehud Barak - another wate of time and money. 13:28  |  Rozz 27/03/08
      55.   Esther 19 13:28  |  Simcha 27/03/08
      56.   Natallie Durson = hate and fiction 13:32  |  Simcha 27/03/08
      57.   WHER E ARE THOSE JEWISH ASSASSINS? 15:12  |  PLAYBOY 27/03/08
      58.   Let them have more APC 18:01  |  Sabra 27/03/08
      59.   Guerrillas tactics 21:36  |  Jose Marcio 27/03/08
     Today Online
    Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions
    Responses: 193
    Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed`
    Responses: 62
    Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel
    Responses: 171
    Ari Shavit: Olmert doesn't belong in the prime minister's office
    Responses: 29
    Rosner's Domain
    New pro-Israel-pro-peace dovish lobby ready to launch (WTR)
    Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes
    Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain?
    Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process
    Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace


    More Headlines
    22:43 Arab FMs re-endorse 2002 Saudi peace initiative
    23:25 Lieberman stripped of attorney-client privilege in bribery probe
    17:40 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel
    22:53 Tel Aviv goes dark as part of global 'Earth Hour' campaign
    20:16 Israel posts clips on YouTube of Jerusalem yeshiva terror attack
    21:10 Ex-High Court chief: State must bring all Ethiopian Jews to Israel
    21:58 Thousands protest in Hebron against charity closures
    23:08 Druze colonel appointed to be president's next military secretary
    14:20 Egypt holds new talks with Hamas, Jihad over truce with Israel
    20:29 Treasury official: Economically, Israel is a bi-national state
    15:10 MKs okay state-funded center commemorating Gaza settlers
    18:47 Bush invites Abbas to U.S. for talks on Palestinian state
    22:42 Police informant: Golan teen murder suspect confessed to killing
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel
    Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels
    FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film
    The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Long-term Israel programs
    MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
    7589 rockets fired so far
    HELP US TO HELP THEM
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved