Israel Matzav

U.S. weapons to be transferred to terrorists?

WorldNetDaily is reporting that American weapons to be transferred to 'moderate Palestinian President' Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen may be used against Israel, and I have to wonder why they sound so surprised.

Last week, I blogged a New York Times report that indicated that the US that indicated that the US wanted to expand Abu Mazen's 'Presidential guard' - known as Force 17 - as a means of strengthening Abu Mazen. I explained that Force 17 is a terrorist organization through and through. Until his capture one month ago, Force 17 was headed by Mahmoud Damra, who is a wanted murderer. I even indicated that there was little Israel could do to complain since the Olmert government had given weapons to Force 17 that were used against Israelis. So WorldNetDaily's current report should come as no surprise:

Weapons and financial aid the U.S. is considering giving to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Force 17 security detail to bolster it against Hamas might be used instead to attack Jews and "fight Israeli occupation," a senior Force 17 officer told WND in an exclusive interview.

The militant, Abu Yousuf, hinted any new weapons provided by the U.S. to his group could be shared with the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror organization, the declared "military wing" of Abbas' Fatah party. Abu Yousuf, like several Force 17 members, is also a member of the Brigades. [I keep telling people that all the terrorists - Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc. are the same - they just keep changing their uniforms. Perhaps I will convince some skeptics with this post. CiJ]

"There is no chance that we will use force and violence against our brothers in Hamas unless they will endanger [Abbas]. There is a chance that Israel will attack the Palestinian territories, and in this case, these weapons and others provided [by the U.S. to Force 17] will be directed towards the (Israeli) occupation," Abu Yousuf said.

Abu Yousuf was responding to reports the U.S. is planning to transfer weapons and aid to Force 17, which protects Abbas and also serves as a special security force on behalf of the Fatah party.

This all is apparently slated to happen very soon:

Senior Palestinian officials told WND the U.S. is planning to transfer ammunition and new assault rifles to Force 17 within days and has pledged to procure about $28 million in aid to Abbas. They said the U.S. would help train Force 17 members in the operation of the new weapons and in advanced combat techniques in facilities already in use in Jericho.

The State Department did not return calls for comment before press time.

David Baker, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Olmert's office had no comment on reports of new U.S. aid to Abbas. Sources in Olmert's office confirmed the U.S. aid package reportedly offered to Abbas.

The Americans are arming Palestinian terrorists and Olmert has no comment!!!!

The last known weapons transfer to Force 17 took place in May and reportedly consisted of 3,000 assault rifles and more than 1 million rounds of ammunition.

At first, the U.S., Israel and the PA denied the reports of the weapons transfer, but Olmert in June announced he had approved the shipment of U.S. weapons and ammunition, explaining the transfer was meant for Abbas' personal protection.

"I did this because we are running out of time and we need to help Abu Mazen," Olmert told reporters.

The shipment required Israeli consent to pass through checkpoints. It was delivered by a convoy protected by the Israeli Defense Forces, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials involved in the transfer.

And lest you have forgotten, al-Aksa took responsibility (along with Islamic Jihad) for the suicide bombing in April in which 'quality target' Daniel Wultz of Florida was murdered.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:23 PM