Israel okays armoured vehicles for Palestinians

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2007

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel has given approval for the Palestinians to get dozens of armoured vehicles in a gesture to president Mahmud Abbas ahead of a key US peace meeting, officials said Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave the green light for 50 Russian-made vehicles to be delivered to the Palestinian Authority over the coming months, government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP.

"The prime minister has given his approval for the delivery of 50 lightly armoured vehicles," Eisin said.

Olmert took the decision to approve delivery of the vehicles as a gesture of goodwill towards the Palestinian president ahead of a Middle East peace conference to start in the United States next week, she said.

Half of the vehicles will be deployed in the...