The Hamas delegation that left Egypt without any progress on yet another “lull” came back into Gaza, only to be stopped on the border by Egyptian guards. They were trying to smuggle millions of dollars and euros into Gaza.
Hamas negotiators left Egypt without a long-term cease-fire with Israel on Thursday – but not before some members of the militant group’s delegation were stopped at the Gaza border carrying millions in cash.
The delegation walked away from the cease-fire talks because of disagreements over the blockage on Gaza and border security. Talks will continue at a later date.
An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the group initially refused to be searched by Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing. When the group relented, authorities found $7 million and 2 million euros ($2.5 million) in cash in their suitcases. Another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said $9 million and 2 million euros were found. The discrepancy could not be immediately explained.
The money was later deposited in an account in Egypt by a Hamas member who stayed behind while the rest of the delegation was allowed to return to Gaza, the second security official said. It was not clear what would happen to the money.
They needn’t have bothered, because Olmert is going to give Hamas a lot more than that.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Thursday that Israel will transfer NIS 175 million (approximately $43 million) to Gaza on Thursday, despite heavy opposition by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
The funds, to be transferred immediately, are intended to be pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers in the Gaza Strip. However, since the region is controlled by Hamas, political and security forces believe that it is likely the funds will end up in the hands of Hamas or other terror organizations.
[…] Livni and Barak, during a three-way meeting with Olmert, expressed their disapproval for his decision. The two noted that while the Israel-PLO Economic Agreement, signed in Paris in 1994, requires Israel to transfer tax-generated funds to the PA, it is not the appropriate time to transfer money to workers in Gaza because of the likelihood of a Hamas appropriation.
“This is (the PA’s) money and they have the right to decide how to spend it. The money belongs to (Palestinian Prime Minister Salam) Fayyad and his employees in Gaza,” read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Yeah. Because that’s how it always works. Hamas never gets the funds, right?
Yeah.
The tunnel idea, then this, yet still Wikipedia says:
“Ale Yarok (Hebrew: עלה ירוק‎, Green Leaf) is a minor liberal political party … has had no representation in the Knesset.”
Olmert is insane. Surely here is provision in Israel’s Consitution for the removal of a clearly insane PM. Get him out now.
Where does the money come from? Please tell me Israeli taxpayers aren’t paying for the rockets being fired on their city… And people wonder why I detest left-wingers.
Robert