PA transferring tens of millions of dollars overseas

Agence France-Presse

[TheOtherOne]

Arafat, PA transferring tens of millions of dollars overseas: Israel [Corrected 07/14/02]

07/14/2002

Agence France-Presse

(Copyright 2002)

CORRECTION: ATTENTION - ADDS dropped word in lead

JERUSALEM, July 14 (AFP) - The Palestinian Authority has transferred tens of millions of dollars overseas in case of a long- term Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, an Israeli newspaper reported Sunday.

An Israeli document, quoted by Yediot Aharonot newspaper, accuses Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of having transferred 5.1 million dollars into the Parisian bank account of his wife Suha.

The document also refers to a transfer of 70 million dollars by Mahmud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, the number two in the PLO, the paper added, without saying where the money had been sent.

The funds were being set aside for financing the activities of the Palestinian leadership in the event of it being forced into exile, the paper reported.

A senior Israeli source confirmed to AFP that Israel had handed the United States a document showing "considerable transfers of funds" by the Palestinian Authority, without giving details.

But a senior Arafat aide slammed the allegations as Israeli propaganda aimed at diverting the attention of the diplomatic "quartet" of the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations which meets Tuesday to discuss reviving the peace process.

"This information is part of the lies and rumours which are being put around by the Israelis before the quartet meeting," Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP by telephone.

"It is a part of the war that Israel has declared against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership," he said.

The report comes as Israel continues to withhold from the Palestinian Authority more than 400 million dollars in frozen taxes.

The money, largely customs duties collected on goods shipped into the Palestinian territories through Israeli ports, has been frozen since the Palestinian uprising, or intifada, began in September 2000.

str-ms-hmw/jh/hc

[EBITDA]

Your tax dollars at work.

[Stultis]

But a senior Arafat aide slammed the allegations as Israeli propaganda

...ignoring the fact that the $5.1 million transfer was originally reported by a Kuwaiti paper (report translated by MEMRI) complete with pictures of original docs signed by Arafata$$:

Kuwaiti Daily: Arafat Deposited $5.1 Million from U.S. Aid Funds into a Personal Bank Account

[Mixer]

The Palestinian Authority has transferred tens of millions of dollars overseas in case of a long- term Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories

Is that the real reason or is it to fund terrorist attacks abroad?

[jonatron]

Real or counterfeit?

[monkeyshine]

the diplomatic "quartet" of the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations

LOL, the Europeans are almost always in denial about their true place in the world.

This is not a "diplomatic quartet". The USA leads, and the others follow and back us up. If it makes them feel better to feel comraderie with Russia and the UN, so be it, but I wish they'd stop fooling themselves. They continue to finance Arafat's terrorism, and they continue to allow their financed refugee camps to be slums of terror despite decades of oversight.

The EU in particular is incapable of effective world leadership. They simply do not have what it takes to see things through to their proper ending. They make a show of doing something, but that's all it is. They send money to this or that cause because it makes them feel good, but don't see that the money does any good, and will deny if that money does any bad. And when pressed, they almost always back down.

[varon]

They send money to this or that cause because it makes them feel good, but don't see that the money does any good,....

Just for the record, we also send tens of millions to the PA annually.....

[dennisw]

Take the money and run just like other dictators of failed 3rd world crapholes. Nothing new here.

[monkeyshine]

I believe we have suspended the payments but I could be wrong.

[monkeyshine]

But even if we haven't, we've made a very strong statement about the PA's behavior, and have given Israel the green light to do what it needs to do. Meanwhile Europe is organizing embargoes and boycotts of Israel and Israeli products, and "in a row" over 3rd party shipments of military computer equipment to Israel. It's all for show, because despite their phoney moralisms they are tagging along with Bush's policy.

Despite receiving 100 pages of evidence to show that the PA is supporting and financing terrorism against civilians, they continue to parrot the Arab line.

[Roger_W_Isom]

AHHHH!!!!! See Arafag sees the handwritings on the wall!!!!and is getting ready for exile!!!!! :-)))))

[Roger_W_Isom]

GEE!!!! This is SHOCKING????-NOT!!!!! I could have predicted this at the beginning of this revolt!!! LOL

[Roger_W_Isom]

If I were GW right now I'd read Arafag the RIOT ACT!!!! ANY attack on ANY U.S. citizen will be seen as an ACT OF WAR and ANY dream of a Palestinian "STATE" DIES then and THERE!!!!!

[browardchad]

Is that the real reason or is it to fund terrorist attacks abroad?

No, the Saudis handle that. This is Arafat & company's retirement fund, most probably.

[Shermy]

More likely the politicos fear they may be thrown out, so they're feathering their beds.

[Mixer]

"ANY attack on ANY U.S. citizen will be seen as an ACT OF WAR"

No doubt about that