Palestinian forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been sent for covert training sessions at a secret base in Russia where they are preparing for a possible attempt by Hamas to conquer the West Bank as it did in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian troops joined a special Russian counter-terror commando unit that earned its stripes fighting Muslim rebels in Chechnya.
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| PA security forces carry out mass arrests in Nablus / Ali Waked |
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Large Palestinian security force invades refugee camp next to West Bank city of Nablus in attempt to arrest wanted men responsible for attacks on IDF soldiers |
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According to the report published by the New York Daily News, the Palestinian Authority has established an elite unit, called "al-Himaya Wal-Isnad" (defense and reinforcement), designed to combat terror organizations.
A group of 25 intelligence officers from the unit was sent to Moscow for the 30 day course, which teaches a range of advanced combat skills - from weapons training to rescuing hostages to subduing and arresting armed suspects.
One of the officers participating in the course told the Daily News that the soldiers were training to fight Hamas, which he called the single greatest threat to the PA.
The Palestinian Authority has other forces undergoing similar courses in France, Germany, and Algeria and has plans to send delegations of dozens of security personnel each month for training abroad.
Palestinian security forces have received training in the United States for years, long before Hamas' conquest of Gaza.
In the weeks preceding the Hamas occupation of Gaza, General Keith Dayton, who trains PA forces in America, testified before the US Congress that PA soldiers had made significant progress.
But optimistic slogans aside, the defense apparatus he established in Gaza was defeated with surprising ease in June 2007.
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