Israel Matzav

Hamas got the money

You may recall that last Friday I reported that 639,000 Euros - about $820,000 at current exchange rates - in cash were confiscated from a Hamas smuggler at the Rafiah crossing.

Arutz Sheva is reporting today that the money has reached its destination - the Hamas-led 'Palestinian Authority' - after all.

According to Arutz Sheva:

PA Chairman Abu Mazen ordered the money transferred to the prosecution offices of the PA, and demanded an investigation into the Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhari, and his activities.

However, Abu Zuhari said this week that the money had in fact been officially given to the PA's interior minister on May 22. Speaking with the official Hamas publication, Abu Zuhari promised that the donations would reach their "correct destinations."

Earlier this week, PA affairs correspondent Dalit HaLevy reports, Hamas Authority officials said that economic aid would be partially used to pay for the interior ministry's special security force. Members of the force were recruited from the Popular Resistance Committees and Izaddin Al-Kassam terrorist groups.

"This story reflects once again," HaLevy writes, "the weakness of the Palestinian presidential institution and the judicial system, as well as of the international monitoring mechanism at the border crossing."

Think about that the next time you hear about a 'humanitarian crisis' in the 'Palestinian Authority.'

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:08 PM