PA receives armoured vehicles, weapons from US with Israel approval: media reports

Informed Palestinian sources yesterday revealed that the Palestinian Authority received a number of armoured vehicles and weapons to support its security services; the Preventive Security Forces, National Security Services and the police.

The sources told the local Al-Quds newspaper that the armoured vehicles and weapons will be used to “enforce law and order” in areas under Palestinian security control.

The armoured vehicles were obtained by the PA from the Americans following mediation by Jordan and was approved by the right-wing Israeli government. This aims to strengthen the capabilities of the Palestinian security services to allow them to confront and stop resistance attacks against the occupation.

The sources said that the PA confirmed to various parties, through the Secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, Hussein Al-Sheikh, that the PA is unable to confront those cells that are spread in large numbers in Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm.

As a result, the sources added, the US provided the PA with modern automatic weapons equipped with lasers for use in raids and clashes with the armed cells.

In security meetings over the past few weeks, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on security forces to use an iron fist policy against all armed cells that, in his opinion, are working to destroy the national project, weakening the PA and portray it as powerless to the eyes of the Americans and Europeans.

Armed groups in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm have recently accused the Palestinian security services of arresting their members and supporting the occupation by trying to quash the resistance.

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