EU may have funded terrorists, says Parliament

EU Observer ^ | 4/1/04 | Andrew Beatty

[Nasty McPhilthy]

EU may have funded terrorists, says Parliament

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Tens of thousands of euro of EU funds may have been diverted to people linked with Palestinian terrorism, according to a report from the European Parliament, obtained by the EUobserver.

The report cites documentary evidence seen by a Parliamentary working group- set up last year after allegations that EU funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) had been misused - that between 21,000-39,000 US dollars of EU funds may have been transferred to terrorists.

It is the first time that the EU has said that its own funds to Palestine may not have been used for their intended purpose, although the report does not find sufficient evidence to prove wrongdoing one way or the other.

"There existed two different ways of defining evidence and that each led to a different conclusion as to whether it could be established or not that PA money has been diverted to finance illegal activities, including terrorism", the report says.

The allegations relate to funds given by the EU directly to the Palestinian Authority account from June 2001 until December 2002.

What constitutes evidence? The report details the work of a 13-member cross-party parliamentary group. It is due to be finalised this evening (31 March) behind closed doors and is, in many ways, inconclusive.

The group says it does not yet have enough evidence to show funds were transferred directly to terrorists, but can show that monies were transferred from the PA to members of the Fatah group, which is linked to the 'Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' - a group on the EU's terror list.

The Israeli intelligence services say that evidence yielded from military operations in the Palestinian territories show 2.5 million euro which was "requested and delivered" to the PA fell into terrorists hands, of which 39,000 US dollars can be proven to have been actually paid out.

"Examination of the documents by the European Commission showed that payments to alleged Fatah activists had been authorised for a sum of 21,000 US dollars", according to the report.

Although it adds: "a link between the Palestinian Authority budget structure and the financing of Fatah is difficult to clearly picture".

Direct assistance The EU paid around 10 million euro a month directly into the Palestinian Authority's budget during between June 2001 and December 2002 to help avert its financial collapse after Israel withheld tax transfers.

The retention of the tax left the authority unable to pay staff and pay for basic public services, prompting the EU and other international donors to step in.

The EU withdrew its direct assistance shortly after Israel resumed payments in June 2002.

The Parliamentary report backed the Commission's aim of propping up the PA but criticised the method chosen.

"The Commissioner [External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten] showed his best intentions in order to stabilise the situation and to encourage the reform of the PA institutions in a very difficult context".

However it does conclude: "Budgetary Assistance was not the most appropriate financial instrument to be implemented".

Sources taking part in the talks say there is still discussion over what constitutes evidence of funding terror which could change some details of the final text of the document.

It is not clear when the Parliament will publish the report.

[absalom01]

"Tens of thousands of euro of EU funds may have been diverted to people linked with Palestinian terrorism"

Doh! Ya think?????

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[rageaholic]

Pali terrorists are getting too much money to ever really create a peaceful state. Giving "aid" money to them will only prolong the conflict.

[Joe Bonforte]

A whitewash. They know they are guilty as sin, but they think getting this out there will help. The amount admitted to is small, and it can look like an accident instead of many years intentional effort. In fact, millions of Euros have gone to assisting in Palestinian violence, but now when the Europeans are accused in the future, they can act innocent and say "Oh, that's old news. We found a bit of money that was inadvertanly misdirected, that's all. Nothing to see here. Move on."

These Euroscum have been propping up the Palestinians for years, and still have no particular interest in seeing the whole thing settled peacefully. As long as the Palestinians can continue to be inflamed, it ties Israel down, and consequently makes headaches for us. That's exactly what the "Old Europe" leaders want.

[GeronL]

and they also fund terrorism through the UN.

[OneTimeLurker]

So did we....his name is Arafat.

[John Frum]

Why is the EU giving any $$$$$ to palis? They should get nothing at all. Talk about a waste of funds.