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There's no indicator of cluelessness quite like arming one's enemy. From the Jerusalem Post:
In response to continued violence between the Hamas and Fatah factions in the Palestinian Authority, Israel approved on Wednesday night the transfer of 2,000 automatic rifles, 20,000 ammunition clips and 2 million bullets, to the Fatah security forces in the Gaza Strip.
The decision, taken following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's meeting last Saturday with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, marked the first time Israel agreed to allow arms into Gaza in some six months.
With the approval of the United States, the weapons were transferred from Egypt via the Kerem Shalom crossing, after which a police escort guarded the guns as they were moved to the Karni crossing, where representatives of Abbas collected them.
Likud MK Yuval Steinitz called the move a "bad mistake."
"A lot of IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians will be killed with these weapons," Steinitz told Army Radio. "We haven't yet seen that Abbas is determined to contain terrorism, and there's a greater chance that these weapons will be used against [our] soldiers, and we'll have to combat terrorism."
National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer rejected Steinitz's comments and insisted that the arms would be put to good use by Abbas.
"The weapons delivery is intended to give Abbas the ability to cope with those organizations which are trying to ruin everything. If it helps Abbas become stronger, I'm for it," said Ben-Eliezer in an interview with Army Radio.
Late Thursday afternoon, an Abbas spokesman denied that Egypt had given Fatah any weapons.
Israel's decision to allow the arms shipment to Fatah was a sign that the government was starting to think in more complex terms, Lt.-Gen. (res.) Yochanan Tzoref told Israel Radio.
Tzoref explained that while Fatah might be at a disadvantage as far as its arsenal in its struggle with Hamas, the real challenge facing the organization was that it had lost the faith of the Palestinian public.
"Fatah has to undergo an internal process that will strengthen it, and allow it to compete with Hamas in the public's eyes," Tzoref said.
Hamas had the [Palestinian] public's support almost "instinctively," Tzoref continued, whereas the Fatah "old guard" was holding up necessary reforms.
Meanwhile, a source in Abbas's Presidential Guards denied on Thursday that Fatah had received weapons and ammunition from Egypt. The unnamed source told Israel Radio that the Egyptian shipment had contained an X-ray machine, televisions, and computers to be used at the Gaza border crossings.
Saeb Erekat, a spokesman for Abbas, declined comment, as did Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin and the Defense Ministry.
Posted by Marisol at December 28, 2006 10:18 AM
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Maybe I'm just optimistic this morning, but couldn't this help fuel a Fitzgerald-esque "divide and conquer" approach to keep Fatah and Hamas fighting each other and thus too busy to kill Jews?
Posted by: kamala![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 28, 2006 10:26 AM
Maybe I'm just optimistic this morning, but couldn't this help fuel a Fitzgerald-esque "divide and conquer" approach to keep Fatah and Hamas fighting each other and thus too busy to kill Jews?
Posted by: kamala at December 28, 2006 10:26 AM
I think you could be right. It would really be illogical for even the most liberal Israeli to permit this big a weapons shipment if he was seriously concerned that he was going to to be the target. This has to be part of a clever plan to set the Fatah and Hamas clowns fighting each other. Let's hope it works!
at December 28, 2006 10:35 AM
That's the answer? Give them MORE guns?!
Posted by: Concerned Canadian at December 28, 2006 10:52 AM
I am begining to think Olmert is a muslim. Hoping that Hamas and Hezbollah will cancell each other out is a pipe dream. One side or the other will win, and Israel will still have to beat down the last man standing. A very risky pipe dream...
Posted by: duh_swami at December 28, 2006 11:45 AM
I agree with Kamala's assessment.
Posted by: Bonniea at December 28, 2006 11:53 AM
What IDIOCY. As if these weapons will not be turned against Israelis!! Such insanity is hard to fathom. Furthermore, this is hardly the first time! Brothers of former Israeli prime ministers have been killed this way! It does NOT work. How many times will this have to be repeated?? (Frankly, I have very similar fears about the U.S. army training Arab militaries anywhere in the Middle East -- including Jordan, Egypt, Iraq -- these are all potential enemies of the United States. Why up-grade their military capabilities, when it could very well be used against you??)
Posted by: J.S. at December 28, 2006 11:54 AM
a) Who are the traitors in our government who are enabling these terrorists? (applicable laws?)
b)Who is making money off the deal?
Follow the money and find the truth.
Posted by: squire at December 28, 2006 12:50 PM
More proof that the fantasy is real. Rich are the impure springs of Fictive Reality, and the bullets fly just as fast, too.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at December 28, 2006 12:57 PM
meanwhile
Terrorists Vow 'Guns for Abbas' Will be Used Against Israel
15:07 Dec 28, '06 / 7 Tevet 5767
(IsraelNN.com) 'We promise to show Israelis very soon that the weapons brought for the Presidential Guard and [PA] security forces will be used against the occupation," said a spokesman for the Resistance Committee of terrorists Thursday.
His statement jibed with earlier comments by Likud Knesset Member Yuval Shteinitz that the reported shipment of 2,000 rifles and 2 million bullets for Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas's private militia will be turned on Israel. Israel agreed to the shipment from Egypt, in line with the United States desire to see Abbas strengthen his force in case there is a showdown with the Hamas militia.
Abbas has vehemently denied the report, saying a recent shipment was full of office equipment for the Gaza crossing, but Voice of Israel government radio quoted government sources that the PA did not want news of the weapons to be published.
Posted by: TheRegulator at December 28, 2006 1:12 PM
This is the same kind of logic we need to apply at home in the U.S.
Arm the weaker drug cartels that are not as violent. I'm sure that will improve the war on drugs.
at December 28, 2006 1:44 PM
We should stop worrying about whether it's Hamas or Fatah, it's the same enemy. Side with one, side with the other, whichever can benefit us at the moment. Our goal: destroy them both. Send 'em back to where they once were: de-fanged, impotent, smoldering in their own hate, with as many as possible to a place* far, far away.
___________________
*under the ground
at December 28, 2006 2:28 PM
"That's the answer? Give them MORE guns?!
Posted by: Concerned Canadian "
.....THAT is only half of it, Israel is releasing Palistinian prisoners.
What the heck? give them weapons and give them people to use them.
Things work better if you kill the enemy not resupply them.
at December 28, 2006 2:39 PM
"We should stop worrying about whether it's Hamas or Fatah, it's the same enemy. Side with one, side with the other, whichever can benefit us at the moment. Our goal: destroy them both."
Posted by: unicorns62000 at December 28, 2006 02:28 PM
Well stated. We not only need to destroy them both, but rather destroy all those under the banner of Islam as it exists, is interpreted and is applied today.
Providing the "lesser enemy at the moment" with weapons is a precarious business however. It could backfire rather quickly. Dad always told me to "hope for the best but expect the worst."
at December 28, 2006 2:44 PM
While I agree with kamala's general point, this is a risky business and is probably being done out of desperation. Israel is desperate for peace and it shows. Though Hamas and Hezbollah may be at odds with each other for the moment, they remain brothers when it comes to their hatred of Israel.
at December 28, 2006 3:39 PM
Hamas and Fatah need arms and ordanance to be sure... but we shouldn't hand it over to them or deliver it by trucks and ships.
Instead, it should be delivered by 19 year olds with rifles and airplanes.
Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at December 28, 2006 5:30 PM
and tanks, armored personnel carriers, gunboats, gunships and so on....
Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at December 28, 2006 5:32 PM
". Israel is desperate for peace and it shows."
.......Israel has offered peace for thousands of years and has nothing but bodies in the cemetary to show for all its efforts....
Time to consider another game plan.....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 29, 2006 6:47 AM
Olmert is in more of a coma than Sharon ever could be.
Israel...if you INSIST on having a 'ruler' over you - instead of turning to God for your protection.....why choose a spiritually blind, deaf and dumb ruler? Where Olmert was once right of center, his lefty wife and kids have pulled him left of center.
Passiveness against folks who are determined to kill you, whilst relying for protection on a nation and body of nations controlled by financial interests....is not very intelligent.
Better to trust in God.
Posted by: The Goobs at December 29, 2006 12:27 PM
Egypt is laughing.
Posted by: The Goobs at December 29, 2006 12:30 PM
Hey Israel!!! John Kerry is looking for a country to run.
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 29, 2006 4:13 PM
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