"We have completed a study and we found that indeed the PA needs weapons," said Minister Without Portfolio Chaim Ramon (Labor). The first shipment of Kalachnikov (AK-47) assault rifles, pistols, grenades and launchers was delivered through the Rafiah crossing, according to Mideast Newsline.
The shipments come at the same time that PA police informed chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) that they would use their guns only against Israelis and collaborators.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, one of several government officials who have opposed allowing increased arms shipments to the PA, has stated several times that the PA would have more than enough weapons if it would disarm Arab terrorists.
Earlier this month, Israel capitulated on the issue of Egypt's supplying ammunition to the PA - but insisted that the approval did not extend to additional weapons. "We have agreed to let Egypt provide the Palestinians with ammunition in the form of bullets, but not weapons, so that Mahmoud Abbas will not have any more excuses to hold back from attacking the terror infrastructure," a senior Israeli official was quoted recently by the French news service AFP.
The United States has supported the PA demand for light arms.
The shipments come at the same time that PA police informed chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) that they would use their guns only against Israelis and collaborators.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, one of several government officials who have opposed allowing increased arms shipments to the PA, has stated several times that the PA would have more than enough weapons if it would disarm Arab terrorists.
Earlier this month, Israel capitulated on the issue of Egypt's supplying ammunition to the PA - but insisted that the approval did not extend to additional weapons. "We have agreed to let Egypt provide the Palestinians with ammunition in the form of bullets, but not weapons, so that Mahmoud Abbas will not have any more excuses to hold back from attacking the terror infrastructure," a senior Israeli official was quoted recently by the French news service AFP.
The United States has supported the PA demand for light arms.