US weapons prompt Hamas arms race?

[Flabbergasted]

Worries ammo flowing into Gaza to be used against Israel

Aaron Klein Published: 12.19.06, 11:23


The United States for the past few days has been providing arms to militant groups from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party to bolster it against rival Hamas factions, WND has learned.

According to Israeli and Palestinian security officials, the US weapons shipments have prompted an arms race with Hamas, which has been smuggling into the Gaza Strip larger than usual quantities of weaponry from neighboring Egypt.


The Israeli security officials expressed concern some of the weapons obtained by Fatah and Hamas could be used in attacks against Israeli troops operating in Gaza or in raids of Israeli military stations and communities near the Gaza Strip.


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3341901,00.html



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/12/29/MNGQEN9JMO1.DTL&type=politics

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U.S. officials were circumspect but said various moves to support Abbas' forces were taking place, including securing money for training the Presidential Guard and Israeli approval for the return to the Palestinian territories of a group of a thousand or so well-trained but aging Fatah fighters, the Badr Brigade of the Palestine Liberation Organization. They have been barred from returning and are living in Jordan.

The Bush administration is seeking congressional support for up to $100 million, mostly for salaries and training, to strengthen Abbas and his security forces and extend their control over the Gaza crossing points.


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