JERUSALEM (AP) – An Israeli security official says Israel allowed Palestinian security forces to receive a shipment of around 1,000 rifles, a step aimed at bolstering the moderate Palestinian government.

The official says the shipment of Kalashnikov rifles and tens of thousands of bullets reached the Palestinians through Jordan about one week ago. He says Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arranged the transfer when they met August 31. The Israeli official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make the shipment public.

Palestinian officials were not immediately available for comment.

Israel has taken similar steps in the past to bolster Abbas against his rivals from Hamas, the hardline Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip.