Russian officers train PA forces

[Scurrilous]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3155405,00.html

Palestinians confirm team of Russian officers arrived in West Bank; Israel has no say in matter as Russians carry diplomatic passports

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"Russian military officers and security personnel have started training Palestinian security forces, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported Sunday.

Palestinian sources said the Russian group of trainers is the first of its kind.

The visitors’ first task will be to look into the requirements of Palestinian security forces and to ascertain the areas where assistance is needed. The Palestinian sources said the Russian officers will operate in the West Bank, while the task of training PA forces in the Gaza Strip will be performed by Egyptian experts.

However, the sources could not clearly answer whether Israel had given its consent to such the arrival of the Russians in the West Bank. Still the sources did say the Russian officers had arrived in the region carrying diplomatic passports, and therefore Israel had no say in the matter.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov confirmed the reports during a press conference in Paris on Thursday."

[bemildred]

1. Very interesting development. nt