'Israel interfering in U.S. efforts in West Bank'
Report submitted to U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs accuses Jerusalem of delaying transfer of military equipment, despite Washington's efforts to train PA forces in West Bank.
By Barak RavidA report by a U.S. government watchdog has found that the Israeli government's conduct in recent years - including delaying the transfer to Palestinian security forces of AK-47 rifles, radios, vehicles and uniforms - hampers U.S. efforts to train those forces in the West Bank.
"The implementation of the U.S. security assistance programs faces a number of logistical constraints that are largely outside of U.S. control, and these security assistance programs outpace efforts to develop the limited capacity of the PA police and justice sector," states the report, which was compiled by the U.S. Government Accountability Office and presented to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs and its subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. It was recently released to the public.
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Palestinian security officers, loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, take part in a training session in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, in June 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
The report cited officials from the U.S. State Department and the bureau of the U.S. security coordinator as saying that "the process for obtaining government of Israel approval for the shipment and delivery of equipment for the PASF [Palestinian Authority Security Forces] is lengthy and may hamper the timely arrival of U.S. shipments. Moreover, the USSC lacks the means to hold the government of Israel or the PA accountable if shipments are delayed or approvals withheld."
The Government Accountability Office worked on the report from July 2009 to last May, meeting with American, Israeli and Palestinian officials in Washington, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramallah. The document examines the extent and effectiveness of U.S. security assistance to the PA since 2007, in the context of the roadmap peace plan requiring security efforts as a prelude to the implementation of the two-state solution.
The report calls on the State Department to define specific objectives and come up with concrete methods of measuring progress, especially given the fact that it has invested $392 million in rehabilitating and training PA security forces since 2007 - more than $160 million to fund certain units of the security forces, $89 million for vehicles and nonlethal equipment, $99 million for the renovation or construction of PA security forces' installations and $22 million in programs to increase the forces' capacity. The State Department has requested an additional $150 million for 2011.
American military consultants are cited as saying there has been an improvement in the security situation in the West Bank, but that it is probably not directly linked to their work.
For their part, Israeli and Palestinian officials praise the training activities, but the document states that the U.S. government doesn't have the means to determine whether such training is actually helping the PA meet its commitments under the roadmap.
Like the State Department, the Israeli government also comes in for criticism. The report quotes top American and Palestinian officials, who describe how Israel delays and hampers the training of Palestinian forces, whether deliberately or because of red tape.
"State [Department] officials stated that the government of Israel prefers not to establish objectives or measures that might limit its flexibility to conduct security operations within the West Bank," the report says.
Despite Israel's demand that the Palestinians act against terrorist groups, Israel has rebuffed American efforts to train Palestinian forces in combating terror, the Government Accountability Office found. The report states that the Americans wanted to set up Palestinian counterterrorist units, a step opposed by the Israeli government.
The document also states that Israel is delaying the transfer of light weapons and ammunition to Palestinian security forces. For instance, a shipment of 1,000 AK-47s was approved by the Israeli government, but detained in customs.
PA officials quoted in the report say the shortage of up-to-date weaponry hampers international efforts to improve the functioning of Palestinian security forces. However, an Israeli Defense Ministry official disputed this, saying the PA forces "had sufficient weapons."
American officials told the accountability office that Israel was delaying the transfer of nonlethal equipment as well, and insists on deciding on a case-by-case basis whether equipment can be transferred to the PA. For instance, Israel approved the shipment of raincoats to the Palestinians, but would not "guarantee the approval of future shipments of raincoats of comparable types and quantities," according to the report.
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isreal is not your friend, they just want you to fight there wars! spend your taxes so they profit. greedy isreal loves you americans xoxoxoxoxoxo
We have been saying it for more than 60 years, it's all the fault of the Arabs, everything we do is right, always right
Israel only agrees to let weapons in to the PA hands so they could divided and conquer the palestinians. israel created hamas to split them up from Fatah. Hamas has more gun power so the Israeli government give the PA weapons to fight hamas hence divide and conquer
Point the BIG guns at the Zionists. VOILA! Problem solved.
Did everyone forget where those guns will be aimed in the event of another intifada / war / whatever?
Exactly what I was about to say in my response. Saw yours and you have confirmed my thoughts.
Israel's conduct is part and parcel of its longterm strategy of talking peace but putting obstacles in the way of achieving it . That way Israel can continue its creeping judaization of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, all the time bemoaning that it is the Palestinians who are preventing a peace agreement. Israel has never, except possibly under Olmert who was a dead man walking, been willing to give the Palestinians anything more than limited local autonomy in separated enclaves broken up by settlements, settler-only roads, closed military areas, roadblocks and checkpoints on the 60% of the West Bank that constitutes Area C. As Aluff Benn pointed out last October Bibi agrees with the article published by a right wing institute that says Israel should hold on to Area C in any agreement.
In their usual duplicious way, bibi will claim that Israel is delaying and denying in order to protect their "security". Israel gets by with alot in using this same argument. The truth is they do not want the PA to have a well trained police force. They prefer to do it themselves and why do you think that would be? A clue: it has nothing to do with their claim that they will turn tohse weapons against Israelis. But that lie has been working for them for decades and they plan on keeping it that way. Keep them weak so we will remain strong.
Imagine that--we are trying to prevent arms going to those who use them to kill us! Tell me, would any other country send arms to their enemies when they have been used against them?
Taking the words out of my mouth.Precisely my point too.Who ever heard of a country giving weapons,training them to kill itself? Only in Israel!
Why would the US supply the PA with the Russian made AK-47 rifles and not the American made M16 rifles? Think about this!
The AK is better for close-quarters fighting, point and spray. The last thing the IDF wants is the Pal force armed with an accurate (-ish) medium range rifle. It is astonishing that, with all its advanced airpower, artillery and armour, when the Pals have none of the above and only side-arms, Israel still fears a few lightly-armed battalions of Pal infantry. It tells you that Israel, in its colonialist hubris mode, is intent on keeping Pal national forces as a bantustan police force to maintain order among the natives. That way, the IDF can run amok on the West Bank whenever it chooses and advance its ethnic settlement project at the point at the point of a gun.
Firstly whenever Israel uses its advanced airpower, artillery and armour folk like you go running around crying about the use of disproportionate force. Secondly, the AK47 is hardly an inferior weapon and it is what the rest of the PA forces use - parts, ammunition, repair expertise etc are then readily available. In other words you have no idea what you are talking about - once again.
And who are they training for and acquiring weapons to defend themselves from?israel? NOT, My only conclusion is perhaps defending themselves from Hamas attacking them? Wow,if that was not BS,what is? Considering they are buddy,buddy most of the time.Alathough not shown by appearances still brothers IN ARMS just the same.One day they detest each other,the next comes Abass taking the side of Haniyeh..AK-47 ?? What NEXT?
You may say,think whatever you like,but Israel does not need a mini Taliban state on its doorstep.Therfore it was established that should there be a Palestinian state whenever that mabe---It will be a DEMITIRALIZED one PERIOD.
Well, they already rec'd amored personell carriers...
Bibi has said that he is accepts the principle of "two states for two people". It stands to reason that the "other state" has to have some way of maintaining law and order after (*chortle*) Bibi finally orders the IDF outta there. Stop whinging about that, otherwise people will think that you don't *really* have any intention of letting that "other state" happen.....
Israel has never wanted an independant Palestinian Territory. That is why every couple years or so they go in and demolish the entire security operation. Then they claim the palestinians arent doing enough to provide security
Who's complaing? If and when the Palestinnias have as state it was deemed by Bibi it will be a demetrilazed one.Since once the Israel gives them weapons they say OH THANK UOU VERY MUCh and summarily turn it against its friend.(i.e) The Israelis. It happened in the past and being cautious they will not fll for it again.Wouldyou Johnboy accept it were you inthe same predicament? I doubt it ver much chum.ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY? Israel has been far too lenient by thinking they'll change all for nought! So,stop blabbering nonsense.
"'It's a matter of internal security.' The age-old cry of the oppressor" --Jean Luc Picard, U.S.S. Enterprise
Following the new Washington point of view, We have to train and arm the people that are not willing to recognize and make peace with us, but are willing to kill us.
i would just like to remind everyone that the last shipment of guns ok'd to the PASF is now in the hands of Hamas in Gaza. so the hesitation on our part is understandable. nothing sucks more than giving someone a gun and have it turned on you.
Absolutley correct! except maybe having the unwashed complain about you for not doing it.
So the GAO did a report on what Condie Rice's State Department did wrong. They were incompetent and set out to prove it. The report holds the proof and tells Hillary what needs fixing. Situation Normal, All Fouled Up What's the big deal? It is an election year?
Everybody forgets israel shot at a US ship a while back. Yes Americans were killed. Everyone in US thinks of israel as an ally. Believe it or not these guys spy on the us more than Russia and even China. Wake up America! We are on our own. We have no friends over there! Ask yourself why do we care& why are we meddling in the middle east.
Remember the USS Liberty if you don't know Google it. Learn how Israels' destructive forces savagely shot at Americans in their life Rafts with our Flag flown high
delivered to the pals ?
The GAO report covers the end of the Bush Administration and their policies.
Israel has the right to interfere in any country that proposes to train militarily the west bank. The wet bank is not yet in peace with Israel How can US dare to do such a thing.First The Obama administration knows very well that Israel will oppose such action.second in the whilm of talking about peace between Israel and the palestinians,Obama administration finds the audace to come up with somthing new just to incite the region. Third that training of the palestinians must be done by Israel only and when Israel finds it secured to do so. The Obama adminbistration must go back to Washingtonand deal not with such actions. God bless you Israel
It was an idea of the Bush Administration. Condie Rice implemented it. Obama's Administration is trying to make it work better. Hence, the GAO report.
The Palestinians eventually, and they will, their own internationally recognised defence force? It isn't a question of if, only a question of when. A Palestinian sovereign state will eventuate faster than most people might imagine and smart people will prepare for and accept that reality.
Reasons I cannot divulge.Wonder if you can guess.As for a Pal state it is ot going to happen fopr quite a long time from now. Why do they need all those AK's for? Who are they going to attack them? Israel is right to stop this before it goes any further..
It's Israel's land, not anybody else's. We should not be training or supporting israel's enemies in any manner.
You must be an American, they're notoriously poor at geography, that was why war was invented, "to teach Americans geography". Palestine is not Israel. Israel's borders were defined by UN General Assembly resolution 181. Look it up for a geography lesson.
When I was a kid, I was told in Mormon Sunday school that the church supported the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel. I heard over and over how Palestinians were killed and kicked off their land to rudely impose this state. The humiliation continues. There is NO chance for peace in this region until the Palestinians are given back their land and a little dignity. // Jean Clelland-Morin
It also may have been Rice's idea. The IDF doesn't train Palestinians or do counterinsurgency. So they cooked up this idea since the US was doing the same thing in Iraq. Now somebody is trying to make it work.
In recent articles the excellent cooperation between PA forces and Israel's security-apparatus is praised. But this article shows that Israel still suffers from a colonial mindset. And the thing about those dangerous raincoats what's that all about? That's just petty. Sorry folks still a long way to go I say
And why not. PA has no intention of ever making a true peace with Israel
And likewise israel has no intention of ever giving back the west bank and east jerusalem as per the 1967 borders. And on and on we go, forever.
Let's see. Correct me if I am wrong. The last time this topic was a conversation was before Hamas battled Fatah. The argument was made not to transfer equipment since it will most likely be used against Israel. Surprise it was. Might Israel have a point here.
they are the one's murdering and killing their neighbors on a daily basis to take their land..
Jews pretending to want peace and security but in fact wanting to perpetuate the conflict to gain more land and rid themselves of the natives.
USA sounds like a Third World country, not the world's mightiest power which guarantees Israel's security. The idea that the former USSR would allow one of their European "allies" to push them around is risible.
No Guns should be Allowed in Gaza! No Guns NO Killing
The Bushies sent weapons to Gaza and got Hamas into power.
we're discussing the Westbank here. Pay attention before you react please
The guns that took hamas to power in gaza were supplied to them via smuggling, not by the Bush admin.
The US gave tons to Fatah in Gaza, but with almost no training. Dahlan was supposed to lead the coup, but had a stomach-ache on the day the coup was supposed to start. He was in Egypt.
This is scary that these soldiers will fight for Abbas this is bad news
Are you sending them relief via the NGOs that are working there in Sudan?
..to irritate a donor. In this case, it's fine.
..to irritate a donor. In this case, it's fine.
I thought isreal and the US are the same people? free plalestine first, we can train ourselfs!
Liberate yourselves back to arabia, egypt, syria, Lybia, or where ever you came from. There is no palestine!
Israel wants to take over the world, the world is waking up to them, there greed, oppression, they are hated all over the world! They are paranoid and desperate as you can see from all there actions. Please keep Netanyahu in government so the world sees the intension of your kind!
It is plain to see who controls America!
The idea that they will use them against Hamas is pure propaganda
Israel , they want to control absolutely every aspect of life on a total population with force , they are going to fail as usual , because it is not in the human nature to submit by force to another , and sadly enough the goverment of Israel is blind to see that their way of dealing with the palastenians will never work !!! YOU WILL FAIL .
musketeers
The last time Israel armed the Palestinians they used them against Israel, so why arm them now, how stupid does the US think Israel is???
... they put a disclaimer in the contract that says that Israel agrees to use those weapons only in self-defence. THAT's how stupid the US is, Larry.
Israel will not "guarantee the approval of future shipments of raincoats of comparable types and quantities," Raincoats? The joke that is "Israeli policy" continues to amuse the world. . . Israeli policies are a joke that just keeps on giving me a laugh. Keep it up guys. I just love it.
Actually I miss the part of the "raincoats".Perhaps it ws so innocuous,I by passed it without noticing it. Laugh old fellah..You know what they say: Laugh and the world laughs with you,Cry and you cry ALONE.
lol jk, it's totally expected. the day that israel allows any palestinian group any amount of self-sufficiency is the day hell freezes over.
Israel provided 30-40,000 automatic weapons to the Palestinian Authority, only to have those weapons turned against them. Israel ALREADY gave them self-sufficiency, training, and weapons, only to have all that turned against Israel in 2000, schmuck.
Under the terms of the Oslo Accords the IDF should have left in 1998 (which is why, of course, the PA needed those weapons to maintain law and order AFTER 1998). SDHD: "only to have all that turned against Israel in 2000" Apparently it has never occured to you to think that this might be connected to the fact that the IDF WAS STILL THERE in 2000, even though the Oslo Accords had them out of there no later than 1998......
instead of sense and sensibility... just concetrate on that in the meanwhile...
We have been reading your *Sensibility* for months, are are not impressed. SDHD is correct. The weapons given to the PA killed and wounded Israelis, perhaps your neighbors. It is just as ludicrous as the US giving weapons to the Taliban. You're off base, as usual.
Than one from lefty Esther..enemy witin.. SDHD says straight from the shoulder and NO MESSING about with wishy,washy language.Besides what explitives did he use? I do REAL BAD ONES AT TIME(to my shame).SDHD go,go to it man.Not that you are shy in coming forward and what I like about our posts.Which by the way tell is truthfully.
then they would have no excuse to be there in the west bank
so the U.S and israel are training the police now they need the equipment to do the job
They were sold to al Qaeda
The PA. Too many times, weapons and training have turned and boomeranged against israel. The Palestinians are not trustworthy. To become a trusted partner, they have a lot of proving and trust-building ahead. It will take years.
They ARE part of the terrorists.
Look from the other side, who is trusting Israel, I think only the Israeli Government.
like the guy in miami funding settlements with bingo money and donation collecting