Israel said to permit transfer of 5 armored vehicles to PA forces

In a highly unusual decision, Israel allowed five armored vehicles to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority on Sunday night, Haaretz newspaper reported Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman granted permission for the vehicles to be brought from Jordan for the Palestinian security forces, the report said.

An Israeli spokesperson pointed out that the exceptional permission came in light of the deteriorating security situation in the Palestinian Authority. 

The armored jeeps were transferred in the middle of Sunday night via the Allenby Bridge border crossing.

US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority Lieutenant General Fred Rudesheim negotiated the transfer, which had been delayed for four years.

The Palestinian forces want the armored vehicles due to a deterioration in the security situation, particularly in the north of the West Bank.

Source: MENA