Russian President Vladimir Putin has become the first Kremlin leader to visit the Palestinian territories, meeting today with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. At a joint news conference, Putin offered equipment and training for Palestinian security forces. "We will give the Palestinian Authority technical help by sending equipment and training people. We will give the Palestinian Authority helicopters and also communication equipment,” Putin said. “If we are waiting for President Abbas to fight terrorism, he cannot do it with the resources he has now." Israel must approve the assistance, but it is skeptical. It fears that sophisticated military equipment could fall into the hands of Palestinian terrorists.