Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, approved on Wednesday that transfer of 5000 rifles from Jordan to the Palestinian Authority’s presidential guard, and is currently weighing the possibility of allowing Badir brigades, that belongs to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), into Palestine.
The Badir brigades are loyal to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and part of the PLO.
Israel has objected in the past to allowing members of the Jordan-based Bader brigade into the Palestinian areas, before but it is now seriously considering approving the entry of these forces to bolster Abbas.
On Wednesday morning, the Political-security Ministerial council of the Knesset decided to adopt the plan of U.S General Kate Dayton which he presented to the Quartet Committee in London.
The plan aims at arming and training the Palestinian Presidential Guard forces, loyal to Abbas, in order to be able to counter “possible clashes with the Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip”.
According to the plan, Egypt, the United Kingdom and possibly Jordan will arms and train these forces.
Last week, Israeli online daily Haaretz, reported that Israel is weighing a Palestinian request to allow an armed brigade that belongs to the Palestinian Liberation Organization into the Gaza Strip.
Israel considering Abbas request for entry of PLO Bader Brigade into Gaza
Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies, Sunday, 29 October, 2006; 02:02
Israeli sources reported on Saturday at night that senior Israeli officials were discussing a request made by the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to Israel to allow the entry of the Bader Forces, based in Jordan, into the Gaza Strip. Bader force is under the control of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
The request was made by Abbas two weeks ago, but Israel officials said that Israel needs to consider the request. Israeli has rejected in the past the entry of these forces into the Palestinian areas.
The sources added that after the clashes intensified between Fateh and Hams gunmen in the Gaza Strip, Israel started considering the entry of Bader force.
The force is composed of several thousands of Palestinians, most of them long-time PLO activists.
Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, said that the request of Abbas is under consideration, but “Israel did not reach a decision on the issue”.
On Friday at night, a coordination committee of all Palestinian factions, including the rival Fateh and Hamas, agreed to end all sorts of public display of arms. According to the agreement, only uniformed policemen and security members will be allowed to bear arms.
Meanwhile, Palestinian policemen wearing blue and white uniforms deployed around the parliament building in Ramallah, in the northern part of the West Bank. Security personnel were also deployed outside the parliament, the Prime Minister Office and the Ministry of Education.
