Israel Matzav

Haniyeh is laughing all the way to the bank

You just knew this was going to happen.

Remember the $562 million that the Olmert-Barak-Livni government decided to release to 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen and his new 'Prime Minister' in the western suit Salam Fayyad? Well guess who's getting some of that money? Yes, you guessed it, 'moderate' deposed former 'Palestinian Prime Minister' Ismail Haniyeh and his cronies from Hamas. And if you live in the United States or Europe, you're paying part of the shoeless one's salary too. But then, I told you three weeks ago this was going to happen, so none of you should be surprised:

When Israel decided to unfreeze $600 million it owed the Palestinian Authority, it did not intend for the money to be used to fill the bank account of former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

After receiving the funds from Israel and additional aid from the United States and European countries, the Palestinian Finance Ministry decided to pay the monthly salaries of government members, including dismissed Hamas ministers and the group's representatives in the Legislative Council.

Each of these officials received on Monday NIS 12,000 (about $2,836) from Palestinian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad's treasury. One of the people to receive this sum was former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, one of Hamas' most radical members.

But keep throwing money at Fatah, Ehud. Eventually - after they've driven us all into the sea - maybe they'll become really 'moderate.'

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:30 PM