(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-22 14:00

JERUSALEM -- Israel has approved Russia's plan to deliver 25 armored vehicles to Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman Ronen Moshe said Friday.

Israel was initially opposed to Russia's proposal two years ago to deliver the vehicles to Palestinian security forces out of concern that the weapons might find their way into the hands of the Hamas movement.

The Jewish state later thwarted the deal after learning that the  Palestinians wanted to equip the vehicles with guns.

During Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Jerusalem this week, Israel consented to the delivery of unarmed vehicles, and will approve the shipment of 25 armored vehicles once forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gain wider control in the West Bank, the defense ministry said.

The Hamas movement seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June last year and forced Abbas' security forces out of the enclave.