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Egypt, Libya, Yemen called top weapons sources for Palestinians

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

TEL AVIV — Israeli military intelligence has determined that three Arab countries serve as the chief suppliers of weapons to the Palestinian insurgency in the Gaza Strip.

Military intelligence sources said Egypt, Libya and Yemen have become the leading suppliers of weapons to insurgency groups in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said the three Arab League states also supply Palestinian Authority officers with extra weapons and explosives.

"The weapons are smuggled by private gangs but with full knowledge of the authorities of these countries," a military source said. "There's no secret here."

The sources said arms dealers purchase AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, rocket and missile components, ammunition and explosives in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. From these countries, the supplies are shipped to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and then smuggled over the border into the Gaza Strip or Israel.

In many cases, the sources said, the supplies were obtained from military surplus of these Arab countries. They said arms dealers pay off commanders and soldiers who open warehouses for theft.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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