(IsraelNN.com) A source in the Hamas terrorist organization said Tuesday that its operatives were paid with part of the funds transferred by Israel to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
“The [Hamas] Executive Force was a part of the security services which received part of their salaries, just like the other forces,” said the Hamas source. An international boycott of the Hamas-led PA government is still in force inasmuch as the terror group continues to refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce terrorism and honor past PA agreements.
Israel released $100 million to Abbas as part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s “good-will gesture” to the PA in the wake of his first meeting with the PA Chairman last December. Abbas aides had no comment on the report.
Remember, the $100,000,000 that Israel gave to Abbas was supposed to be earmarked exclusively towards humanitarian causes. Here's how it was reported back in January:
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said the money would be earmarked for humanitarian needs and a U.S.-backed programme to strengthen Abbas's presidential guard.Not to mention that every dollar that goes towards "salaries" frees up more suitcase dollars that go towards weapons.
It will not be used to make long-overdue salary payments to Palestinian public sector workers, hard hit by a Western and Israeli embargo of the Hamas-led government, they said.
Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said the funds would be channelled to humanitarian projects and the private sector, but declined to say if any would go towards boosting Abbas's security.
The decision not to allocate funds for salaries angered Hamas, which said the money should be distributed by the Palestinian finance ministry.
"We reject any Israeli conditions on regaining this money. This money belongs to the Palestinian people," Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas told reporters after Friday prayers.
It has been clear for some time that Hamas completely controls the PA and that Abbas is at best a figurehead president. Every dime that comes to the PA in the form of "aid" is effectively boosting Hamas, directly or indirectly.
And yet it still keeps coming.