Israeli army balks at some US aid to Abbas forces
Source: Reuters
By Adam Entous JERUSALEM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Israeli army has raised objections to U.S. plans to equip Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's forces with body armour and other battle gear, an Israeli security source and European diplomats said on Wednesday. An $86 million U.S. programme to strengthen Abbas's presidential guard will include funding for four-wheel-drive vehicles, new uniforms and military training, diplomats briefed on the programme said. "The IDF's objections in this case centre on equipment, such as body armour, that is liable to wind up in the wrong hands and be used for terrorism," an Israeli security source said. A U.S. diplomat based in the region said the United States would ensure the equipment does not end up with Fatah militants. "It's going to be done in a way that's monitored," he said. Other diplomats said U.S. and Israeli political leaders were putting pressure on the army to set aside their reservations. The Israeli security source said the Defence Ministry would make the final decision. Washington is seeking to bolster Abbas politically and militarily in his power struggle with Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian government in March after winning elections. Washington has so far publicly committing at least $128 million to the effort, $86 million to train and equip Abbas's presidential guard and up to $42 million to promote so-called democratic "alternatives" to Hamas. "It's going to be a difficult long task, and the security piece has to go hand-in-hand with the political piece," said a European diplomat familiar with the programme. Abbas has called for holding new elections if last-ditch unity government talks with Hamas fail. Washington hopes Abbas will prevail if he can show Palestinian voters that he can deliver an independent state through negotiations. Hamas's charter calls for Israel's destruction. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to hold a three-way summit with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert early next month to try to revive statehood talks. "That's going to be the beginning of the process," said the U.S. diplomat. He said Rice's message was: "We want to see an end game where there is the establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel." In an initial gesture, Israel hopes to release nearly $100 million in withheld Palestinian tax revenues to Abbas by Friday, a senior Israeli official said. But many Palestinians are sceptical of U.S. intentions. "Every time there is a conflict, the Americans come with incentives. They say, 'This time we are serious and we're going to solve things,'" Zakaria al-Qaq of al-Quds University said. "The results this time will be the same -- nothing but high expectations and the Palestinians left with frustrations." NON-LETHAL EQUIPMENT U.S. officials stressed Washington would only provide Abbas with non-lethal equipment. Diplomats and Israeli officials say, however, that Egypt and Jordan, both major recipients of American aid, are providing him with arms and ammunition. The United States will not provide the training directly. Diplomats said Abbas's men would instead receive training from private contractors, as well as trainers from key allies. A retired Israeli defence official said Israel has placed similar restrictions in the past on such things as the calibre and quantity of weapons sent to Palestinian forces. "I'd rather face a terrorist with body armour than a terrorist with a Kalashnikov," the former official said. The U.S. aid programme has stirred some controversy within Israel, where some associate the presidential guard with Force 17, which protected long-time leader Yasser Arafat. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accused Force 17 of being "involved in terror" in 2002, and 230 members of the U.S. Congress sought to add the force to the State Department's list of banned "terrorist" groups. That list includes Hamas. Supporters of the U.S. aid programme say Force 17 and the presidential guard now function as separate entities. (Additional reporting by Dan Williams and Wafa Amr)
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