Israeli army approves 50 armored vehicles for PA from Russia, part of effort to bolster Fatah

Ma'an - The Israeli military has recommended the Israeli government allows the Palestinian Authority to import 50 armored vehicles from Russia, Israeli press reported Friday.

Russia first offered the vehicles in 2005, in what some called an attempt to bolster the rule of Fatah, but the plan did not work through in the wake of the civil unrest following the election of Hamas.

In 2008, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert approved the transfer of 25 modified vehicles, but revoked the decision under internal pressure from the right wing, Israeli daily Haaretz said.

The vehicles were sent to Jordan last week, where they were used in training exercises by PA security forces.

The report said that the Israeli army central command and the Coordinator of Government Activities in Palestinian Territories have recommended the Israeli government agrees to PA requests to transfer the vehicles, citing strengthened security relations between the PA and Israel.

Such a concession, if granted, may be part of the attempt by the Israeli government and the US administration to coax Abbas into direct talks with Israel.

Abbas has said he will not enter direct negotiations until progress is made on the issues of borders and security, discussed in six rounds of US-mediated, US-initiated proximity talks. He has also said a halt to illegal settlement construction, on land which would be the future Palestinian state, is a precondition of the resumption of direct talks.