Israel agrees to PA helicopter purchase
With West Bank tensions calming somewhat, Israel has agreed for the Palestinian Authority to acquire helicopters for Palestinian officials to travel to Jordan and within the West Bank.
Reports yesterday said Israel’s security establishment has agreed for the Palestinian Authority to purchase helicopters to transport its senior officials. The plan is for two helicopters to be acquired by the PA and stationed in Jordan for use by senior Palestinian officials when needed. The PA would be required to ask Israel for authorization to travel through Israeli airspace, including over the West Bank. The purchase is to be financed by unnamed Gulf countries.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas already uses a helicopter provided by Jordan, mostly to fly to Amman. Abbas has not traveled to Gaza for several years now.
