MOSCOW, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian military equipment will only be supplied to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) with Israeli agreement, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.

    "All equipment supplies to Palestine might be carried out only with Israeli consent and through its territory," Ivanov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    "This issue is under preliminary consideration," he said.

    Ivanov's remarks came a day after Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yury Baluyevsky said Russia may supply arms to the PNA after talks in Moscow with leaders of Hamas, which swept the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary elections.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday a Hamas delegation will visit Moscow in early March.

    Reports have said Russia would supply two MI-17 helicopters and 50 armored personnel carriers to the Palestinians.

    Baluyevsky said the two helicopters will be delivered without arms. "They are intended to transport the Palestinian leadership."Enditem