BICOM

Israel has given approval for the Palestinian Authority to equip its security forces with riot-control gear, such as tear gas grenades and rubber bullets. The PA has approached Israeli firms to purchase such equipment in advance of anticipated demonstrations in the West Bank ahead of the Palestinian’s UN statehood vote. Israel has also prepared its security forces for a range of potential scenarios, while it would prefer if Palestinian forces controlled the protests and crowds first. Palestinian security officials told their Israeli counterparts in their regular meetings that they would do all within their ability to contain demonstrations and prevent violent altercations with the IDF. But both PA and Israeli security forces are preparing for the possibility that demonstrations will escalate into violence. Thus, a few months ago the IDF recommended to allow the PA to acquire riot control gear, so the Palestinians could deal with demonstrations before the IDF had to. The ministers involved gave their approval at the beginning of the month.

In case of an overall escalation, the IDF has prepared to double its forces in the West Bank. The IDF has also made large purchases of equipment for dispersing demonstrations, in addition to the regular equipment used in such circumstances. For example, it has purchased equipment that disperses a horrible smell or makes noise at an intolerable frequency.

In other news, US envoys David Hale and Dennis Ross, the European foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, and the Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair are all due to meet Palestinian and Israeli leaders this week. Efforts to persuade the Palestinians to change tack ahead of next week’s UN meeting on the recognition of a state of Palestine quickened this week with a series of high-level meetings in Jerusalem and Ramallah aiming to avert a diplomatic collision in New York.