GAZA, September 5 (RIA Novosti) – Jordan has sent 1,000 Kalashnikov rifles to Fatah with the blessing of Israel, which hopes the weapons will help the Palestinian party to better promote security and oppose Hamas, local radio said Friday.

The transfer, which included thousands of rounds of ammunition, took place around a week ago after Israel’s Defense Ministry issued a special permit.

Israelis believe the arms will be used by forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to improve security in the Fatah-controlled West Bank and oppose Hamas, the radical Islamic group that seized power in the Gaza Strip last year after a bloody conflict.

Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arranged the deal when they met in Jerusalem on August 31 for peace talks, the radio reported, quoting an Israeli official.

Weapons shipments to the Palestinian Authority are widely considered risky for Israel since they can end up in hands of groups who violently oppose the Jewish state.