MOSCOW — Russia still plans to sell armored personnel carriers and
helicopters to the Palestinian Authority.
Officials said Russia has continued negotiations with the PA for the
sale of military platforms despite the Hamas victory in Palestinian
legislative elections. They said, however, that the proposed arms sale would require
Israeli agreement, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Supplies of military hardware to Palestine can only be carried out with
Israel's consent and through its territory," Russian Defense Minister Sergei
Ivanov said on Feb. 17.
Under the proposal, Russia would sell two Mi-17 utility helicopters and
BRDM-50 APCs to the PA.
"The consideration of the issue is at a preliminary stage," Ivanov said.
The Interfax news agency said negotiations for the APC sale were
suspended after the Hamas victory. Hamas won a resounding majority of the
132-member Palestinian Legislative Council on Jan. 25.
"It would be short-sighted to say the least to make decisions on
supplying APCs to Palestine after the Hamas victory and amid the current
situation in the Middle East," Interfax quoted a Russian source as saying on
Feb. 13. "We are taking a break on the issue for now."
But on Feb. 16, Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky raised the
prospect that negotiations would be resumed. Baluyevsky cited a planned
visit by a Hamas delegation to Moscow in early March.
"Russia may make a decision on supplying military hardware to Palestine
after the Moscow talks," Baluyevsky said.
