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Egyptian weapons sent to bolster Abbas

A masked gunman holds a homemade rocket during an Islamic Jihad press conference in Gaza City on Nov. 23. Islamic Jihad, a tiny militant group, has been firing rockets at Israel with the intention of sabotaging a month-long Gaza truce and provoking Israeli retaliation. PHOTO: AP

Egypt sent a large shipment of weapons to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to shore up embattled Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli security officials said yesterday.

The shipment, consisting of 2,000 automatic rifles, 20,000 ammunition clips and 2 million bullets, was approved by Israel and sent through Israeli territory in four trucks accompanied by a military police escort, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the shipment had not been officially confirmed by Israel, the Palestinians or Egypt.

The trucks then crossed into the Gaza Strip through the Karni checkpoint, the officials said.

The weapons are meant to strengthen Palestinian security services affiliated with Abbas' Fatah movement, engaged in a violent struggle for power with the Islamist Hamas group, which controls the Palestinian parliament and Cabinet. The shipment was a clear signal of Israeli and Egyptian support for Abbas.

Israel had long been reluctant to send weapons to the Palestinians, fearing they would be used against Israelis. But a recent warming of contacts between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israel's desire to see Abbas prevail against Hamas seems to have overridden those concerns.

According to the Haaretz daily, the details of the shipment were settled by Olmert and Abbas at their first summit that was held in Jerusalem last Saturday night.

Saeb Erekat, a spokesman for Abbas, declined to comment, as did Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin and the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Meanwhile, the tiny, violent group Islamic Jihad held the fate of a monthlong Gaza truce in its hands after Israel decided to attack Palestinian militants firing rockets in violation of the cease-fire.

Israel's leaders approved "pinpoint" attacks on rocket squads a day after two 13-year-old boys were seriously wounded by a rocket fired from Gaza. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

Islamic Jihad members said on Wednesday they were hoping to provoke Israeli retaliation and sabotage the truce to restore Palestinian unity against a common enemy.

"That's one of the main reasons for resuming [rocket] attacks," said Abu Ahmad, a spokesman for the group.

Islamic Jihad believes a renewed conflict with Israel would halt fighting between rival Palestinian groups that some say may lead to civil war.

Islamic Jihad is believed to be made up of just 2,000 armed Palestinians. While the larger militant Islamic group, Hamas, has turned to politics and is now running the Palestinian government, Islamic Jihad has remained an armed force dedicated to destroying Israel.

Olmert's office said Israeli retaliation would be limited to "pinpoint" operations meant to foil the rocket launchers.

"At the same time, Israel will continue to abide by the cease fire," the statement said.
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