Russia and China - extending dangerous tentacles into the Middle East situation
"DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources: The Palestinians pulled their four-bullet trick as a ruse to get APCs – even though their plan to protect Israel’s evacuation is too little and too late
July 30, 2005, 10:00 PM (GMT+02:00)
DEBKAfile’s military sources add: The plan drawn up by Abu Mazen’s men to guard the Israeli evacuation starting in 17 days from Palestinian fire looks fine on paper. But time has run out for putting it into practice.
Furthermore the Palestinians and the international coordinator James Wolfensohn have not come to any arrangement for clearing bulldozed Israel buildings – notwithstanding Palestinian claims. They have only got as far deciding to meet again in a few days.
What was behind the Palestinians’ ludicrous claim that they cannot fight terror because their officers have no more than 4 bullets each? They tried it on the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice when she was in Ramallah last Saturday, July 23. How can we fight terrorists, Abu Mazen and his interior minister Yousef Nasser asked her when Israel won’t let us have ammunition?
Although it is common knowledge that Palestinian stores are bursting with enough ammo and guns for a full-scale war and their towns and villages are awash with every kind of weapon, Rice demanded that Israel immediately rectify the Palestinians’ sorry situation. Prime minister Ariel Sharon and defense minister Shaul Mofaz made no effort to put the angry secretary right - just to appease her.
But when American and Israeli officials asked the Palestinians to list their requirements, they were surprised at the answer. Forget the bullets, they were told. What we really need are armored personnel carriers.
In other words, Palestinian officers aspire to upgrade their chaotic security services into a regular armored force, without bothering to go through the process of disentangling them from – let alone cracking down on - terrorist groups.
Instead of types of bullets, the American and Israelis were given a wish list for assault APCs capable of attacking army oppositions, transporting troops, combat engineering and riot dispersal with water canons.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that last week Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip quietly took delivery of 4 British APCS capable of attacking military positions, knocking over roadblocks and clearing mines. The Palestinians now demand permission to import 300 BTR carriers, gifts from Russia and China, due soon to reach Gaza and Ramallah. So far, Israel has said no. But the Sharon government may well relent if Rice steps in again. "
Re: Russia and China - extending dangerous tentacles into the Middle East situation
Palastine is not a target for terrorists, Israel is. It would be a mistake to allow the Palastinians to have war equipment. Israel is not a threat to Palastine, but Palastine is a threat to Israel.
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