Israel 'allows' Fatah weapons shipment

The weapons shipment reached the Palestinians through Jordan about a week ago, the Israeli official said, adding that Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had authorised the transfer of arms after a formal request submitted by the Palestinian Authority.

The authority said that the weaponry would be used in the campaign that Prime Minister Salaam Fayad is currently waging against Hamas guerillas in the West Bank.

Israel has approved similar shipments in the past and is allowing Mr Abbas's security forces to assume a larger role in some parts of the West Bank.

But Israel's military maintains overall control of the West Bank and of its border crossings with Jordan, including the Allenby Bridge terminal, where the weapons crossed into the territory.

In current peace talks between Israel and Mr Abbas's government, Israel is insisting that a future Palestinian state be demilitarised.

The Palestinians are opposed and the issue is emerging as one of a number of sticking points in the negotiations, according to Palestinian officials close to the talks.

Also on Friday, around 90,000 Muslims congregated at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the first communal prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.

Israeli police restricted the entry of Palestinians, banning men under 45 and requiring many women to produce valid entry permits.

At one checkpoint north of Jerusalem, Palestinians threw stones at troops, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. No injuries were reported.