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Israel, which collects $50 million per month in customs taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority on $1 billion in Palestinian goods sold to Israel and $2 billion in Israeli products sold to Palestine, reacted to Hamas' win by pocketing the Palestinians' money. "I have no intention of approving the transfer of money which will be used for terrorism," barked Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. But customs taxes aren't aid. The money belongs to the Palestinians. Israel isn't cutting off a "transfer of money" to the new Hamas-led government, a line repeated throughout mainstream media accounts. They're stealing it.

The funding question is the biggest issue. Related to this, whether Palestinians will be allowed to export to the outside world from Gaza. Until that is fixed, there will be increasing conflict.

whether Palestinians will be allowed to export to the outside world from Gaza.

Export what? They have no products to export.

The funding question is the biggest issue....

Funny--I thought terrorism and suicide bombers were the biggest issue. If you confiscate $$ that was being used to kill you, is it stealing or self-defense? I think its the latter.