 GAZA - Part of the $100 million in tax revenues transferred by Israel to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas went on paying security services, including members of a Hamas-led force, a Hamas source said Tuesday. ‘The (Hamas) Executive Force was a part of the security services which received part of their salaries, just like the other forces,’ the Hamas source said.
During a meeting with Abbas on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked him to account for how the $100 million in Palestinian tax revenues had been spent. Top aides to Abbas had no immediate comment.
| "Umm ... umm .... umm-m-m ....." |
Israel opposed using the money to pay salaries, particularly to members of Hamas, a group whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, government officials said. ‘This flies in the face on what was agreed upon,’ said an Israeli government official.
| You trusted Abbas and now you're surprised? |
Under US pressure, Israel transferred the $100 million to AbbasÂ’s office in January. Israeli officials said at the time that the money would be earmarked for humanitarian needs and programmes to strengthen AbbasÂ’s presidential guard, and not to pay salaries.
| That worked well, didn't it. |
|