Israel allows weapons transfer to Palestinians

JERUSALEM - An Israeli security official says Israel allowed Palestinian security forces to receive a shipment of around 1,000 rifles in a step to bolster the moderate Palestinian government.

The official says Kalashnikov rifles and tens of thousands of bullets reached the Palestinians through Jordan about a week ago. He says Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arranged the deal last month.

The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make the shipment public.

Palestinian officials were not immediately available for comment.

Israel has taken similar steps in the past to bolster Abbas against his rivals from Hamas, the hardline Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip.

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