Palestinian Authority funds go to militants (BBC)

[tinnypriv]

Palestinian Authority funds go to militants
BBC News, 7 November 2003

The Palestinian Authority, headed by Yasser Arafat, is paying members of a Palestinian militant organisation which has been responsible for carrying out suicide attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians, a BBC investigation has found.

A total of up to $50,000 a month is being sent to members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed group that emerged shortly after the outbreak of the current Palestinian intifada, a BBC Correspondent programme reveals.

A former minister in the government led by ex-Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) says that the money is an attempt to wean the gunmen away from suicide bombings. He says the policy of paying the money was not instigated by Mr Arafat but has been carried out with his knowledge and agreement.

...

He says the money is intended to ensure that al-Aqsa members were not influenced by outside organisations to carry out further suicide bombings. Al-Aqsa has not claimed to have carried out any suicide bombings since May.

Asked how the Palestinian Authority could be sure that the money was not spent on weapons, Mr Hamayel replied: "The amount sent to them is very small. At most, it's not more than $250 per person. How can anyone buy weapons with this amount of money?"

...

Close links between Mr Arafat's political faction Fatah and al-Aqsa are also discovered by the programme. One local Fatah leader in the West Bank town of Jenin says that the al-Aqsa group is the military wing of his organisation and that Mr Arafat is the overall leader of both the political and military arms.

...

MORE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3243071.stm

...

Comment: Bowen is a reasonably good reporter and this looks extremely interesting, so I'll watch with interest.

BTW, it's also available on BBC World, but I don't know how US folks would go about receiving that though.

[Darranar]

1. This is indeed interesting.

[drdon326]

2. SUUUURRRRE

Yeah....paying them not to murder.

Can you say ....bullshit !!

[Muddleoftheroad]

3. Interesting

See, Arafat doesn't steal ALL of the money. He gives some to terrorists.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Proudlib]

5. Anyone Who Believes

That Arafat is giving the money to prevent the murder of Israeli civilians probably also believes in Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny.

I just wonder how many Palestinian children can be fed for the money Arafat is giving to his murderers brigade.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

11. Yes, you are spot on, Mr. Road!

[bemildred]

6. You have to wonder if he has permission to make all this public?

Otherwise, it seems sensible enough.

[The Magistrate]

7. It Does, However, My Friend

Provide some meat to often expressed suspicion of direct linkage between Arafat and some of the attacks lately against Israeli civilians. Mr. Bowen of the B.B.C. is not someone who can easily be dismissed as a stooge of Likud, nor can his report be described as Israeli disinformation. More signifigant than the money is the clear acknowledgement that many Al Aksa members are members of Fatah security services who recieve salaries from that source while active with the clandestine group, and that a senior officer can be found willing to state openly Al Aksa is a fighting arm of Fatah.

[bemildred]

8. Indeed Sir.

I expect that the group is only "clandestine" in the sense that
it hides from the Israeli security services, and it makes sense
that Yassir would want to maintain some influence or control over
them. As you have pointed out free-lancers are an abomination to
those who think themselves legitimate.

I meant only that I would have expected these relationships to
exist. I was not under the impression he had a high moral character,
but I was under the impression that he likes the reins in his hands.
Should I understand that this is a matter in dispute?

[The Magistrate]

9. Probably, Sir, It Is Just My Being Persnickity

But there have been running discussions here in the past concerning whether Arafat was directly tied to attacks in the current wave of hostilities, in which the proposition he was not, or that proof of such involvement did not exist, received some defense. Certainly he cannot be charged with any actions by Hamas or Islamic Jihad, but this ought to make that general proposition harder to defend. You know it is not my custom to take any great part in such wrangles, since for better or worse, he is the functioning authority of that side, and so long as he suffers in the vale of tears, must be dealt with if there is going to be a deal.

[bemildred]

10. "Plausible deniability" is always handy I suppose.

While I find it a reach to think of him as Ghandi-like,
I suppose you are right that some will feel differently.
One's own side must of course be saintly.

Mr. Avnery's piece on "The Prisoner of Ramallah" was interesting
in that regard because it was such a contrast to the usual
depiction. Not unlike Mr. Sharon being likened "a man of
peace". But let it pass, my friend, it means little.

I must say I would like to know what goes through his head,
assuming it were not incomprehensible.