The West Bank is lacking security and stability following armed clashes between Palestinian security forces and gunmen deployed in refugee camps — most recently on Nov. 18 in Fara refugee camp in Tubas city, in the northeastern West Bank.

In light of this security tension, Israel agreed Dec. 6 to allow the entry of armored vehicles from Jordan to the West Bank to be handed over to the Palestinian security services, after having prohibited the entry of such vehicles for four years, during which Israel only approved the acquisition by the Palestinian Authority (PA) of anti-riot light weapons. The armored vehicles were received in the presence of Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian officers.

Haaretz newspaper reported on the same day that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman have approved the delivery of five armored jeeps for the [PA] security forces.”

The newspaper also read, “The jeeps were delivered overnight Sunday into Monday via the Allenby Bridge. The vehicles were loaded onto transporters at the crossing under the supervision of Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli officers, and were sent to PA security bases.”