Russia to sell Palestinians arms if Israel agrees

MOSCOW, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday Moscow would supply military hardware to the Palestinian Authority only if Israel agreed, Interfax news agency reported. "Supplies of military hardware to Palestine can only be carried out with Israel's consent and through its territory," he said, a clear reference to plans, now suspended, to sell the Palestinians two helicopters and 50 armoured personal carriers (APCs).

Last year the Palestinian Authority sought to buy Russian hardware, but no definite deal was reached, and it was not immediately clear what stage negotiations had reached before they were suspended following the Jan. 25 Palestinian election victory by radical Islamist group Hamas. On Monday, Interfax news agency quoted a "well-informed source" in Moscow as saying sales of APCs were put on hold after the Hamas win, but the source did not mention the helicopters.

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