With Israeli Approval, Egypt Sends Arms to Abbas's Fatah Movement

JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 -- With Israel's blessing, Egypt has delivered a large shipment of arms to forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli officials said Thursday, in the latest Israeli attempt to boost the embattled leader in his conflict with the radical Hamas organization.

Israel has been trying to reinforce Abbas's standing among his people. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Abbas is a partner for negotiations -- unlike Hamas, which rejects the existence of Israel and refuses to renounce violence. Hamas took over the Palestinian government after winning parliamentary elections last January.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Abbas, issued a statement denying any arms deal. At midday Thursday, however, witnesses saw a truck belonging to the national security force carrying what appeared to be sealed boxes of weapons. The force is allied with Abbas's Fatah organization.

When the truck attempted to make a quick detour, a box fell to the ground, scattering automatic weapons on the road, the witnesses said. Security officers quickly got out of the truck and collected the guns.

Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli Defense Ministry official, told Israel Radio that the military assistance was rendered to reinforce the "forces of peace" against the "forces of darkness" threatening the region, a reference to Islamic extremists. There has been a week-long hiatus in violence between Fatah and Hamas, but Palestinians say it could resume at any time.

Israel approved the transfer of 2,000 automatic rifles, 20,000 ammunition clips and 2 million bullets on Wednesday, Israeli officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the shipment had not been officially confirmed by Israel, the Palestinians or Egypt.

Ahmed Youssef, a political adviser to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, said Egyptian officials had assured him that no arms were sent. He accused Israel of spreading false rumors about an arms shipment in "an attempt to increase tensions among the Palestinians."

Seventeen people have died this month in factional fighting, which included an attempt to assassinate Haniyeh.

On Thursday, the prime minister left Gaza to resume a trip to Persian Gulf states that had been cut short by the violence, which has since subsided. He was headed first to Saudi Arabia, then to Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan, where he and Abbas have been invited by King Abdullah for talks.

About 5,000 Hamas militiamen, some on foot, others in jeeps, lined the roads as Haniyeh traveled from his base in Gaza City to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Haniyeh's convoy came under fire at Rafah on Dec. 14 when he came back from his suspended trip, and the heavy security was a clear indication that concerns about his safety remained high.

Meanwhile, one of the Palestinian militant groups holding an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas-linked radicals in June said progress has been made toward a prisoner exchange.

Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, said Egyptian mediators are trying to finalize a deal.

Also Thursday, Olmert slightly softened his tone concerning peace overtures from Syria, saying he is open to "any murmur of peace" from Israel's enemies. Olmert added: "If our enemies genuinely want peace, they will find in us a fair partner, determined to establish relations of peace, friendship and reciprocity."