A European diplomat was quoted in the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan Sunday as saying that the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) would be willing to deploy its troops in Judea and Samaria as part of a deal to create a Palestinian Authority state.

The diplomat said, in Brussels, that NATO would prefer to send troops as part of an international force, but will go it alone if need be.

The idea of deploying NATO forces in Judea and Samaria was suggested by Deputy Prime Minister Chaim Ramon last week, who called for the international organization to be in charge of security in the areas that Israel hands over to the PA.