TEL AVIV - Israeli authorities tracking HamasÂ’s funds said they made an unexpected discovery last month -- cash from one of IsraelÂ’s biggest banks had found its way to a security force loyal to the Palestinian Islamists in Gaza.| This is a clear Charlie-Fox situation. |
Israeli regulators said banks including Hapoalim have been pushing for months to sever banking ties to Gaza, arguing there was little profit in it and no way to know whether their shekels could end up with Hamas, putting the banks in legal jeopardy. Regulators say Discount Bank DSCT.TA and other Israeli banks plan to follow HapoalimÂ’s lead, threatening GazaÂ’s money supply and President Mahmoud AbbasÂ’s ability to pay public sector wages -- part of a U.S.-led, Israeli-backed strategy to bolster his West Bank-based administration and weaken Hamas.