Fatah and Hamas: Has Gaza Benefitted from US Funding?

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

                             Hamas leader in middle, Ismail Haniyeh, b: January 29, 1962

On 17 March 2007, a unity government was formed incorporating members of both Hamas and Fatah, with Ismail Haniyeh as Prime Minister and independent politicians taking many key portfolios.

Gaza is run by the terrorists, Hamas.  Ever since they were allowed to vote in 2006 through Obama's input, they voted in the more violent section of the Palestinians.  In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and evacuated its civilian settlers from the Gaza Strip. The next year, Palestinians in Gaza expressed their frustration with the transitional Palestinian Authority (PA)  by voting Hamas into power. Since then, Israel has imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on the Gaza Strip.

It's debatable if it was a fixed election or fair one; I'd vote fixed being the terrorists were running the voting.  Be it as it may, the people participate in all the terror of shooting rockets almost every day into Israel.  Now they have taken to flying balloons with fire into Israel's fields and forests causing innumerable fires.  

These terrorists of Gaza have united and departed from each other over and over.  Each one wants to be the head honcho, and usually neither gives in.  They unite only for publicity when they have their picture taken.  Abbas is past retirement age.  He's doing well just to get to the office.  Who will come after him?  

                                                                    

Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini, popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1969 to 2004 and President of the Palestinian National Authority from 1994 to 2004.

                                       Arafat with Hillary Clinton and her daughter

In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed for the purpose of establishing a Palestinian Arab state on the land previously administered under the British Mandate, and which the PLO considered to be occupied illegitimately by the State of Israel. Their leader was Arafat.  The group were Fatah terrorists.  Hamas was created out of the group. 

 Fatah is a terrorist organization, and membership fees originating from salaries paid by the EU help fund it.

·    FACT: The Palestinian Authority pays salaries to Fatah activists and has recruited Fatah members into its ranks .                             

Ramallah may have paid as much as NIS 600 million ($181 million) in 2020 in salaries to Palestinians imprisoned by Israel for security offenses — including terrorism — and their families, a Palestine Liberation Organization official said on Thursday.  “We pay around NIS 50 million ($15 million) per month in salaries,” PLO Commissioner for Prisoners’ Affairs Qadri Abu Bakr said in a phone call with The Times of Israel. Terrorists terrorize and kill and get paid for it by their people.  

EVIDENCE: PA documents show that it pays the salaries of Fatah terrorists in the amount of $640,000 to $1 million per month.  There are letters of request to Arafat to approve putting Fatah activists and other persons known to be involved in terrorism onto the PA security apparatus payroll to pay for their terrorist activities.  The documents are addressed to Arafat, and frequently have his comments in own his handwriting on them. 

By claiming that there is no indication that any actual recruitment took place, and that effective approval would require some other notation from Arafat,  the EU is simply obfuscating the evidence. Even if Arafat did not literally  sign off on the hiring of certain terrorists, he gave his tacit approval by forwarding the requests for their hiring.

                                                              

Ismail Abdel Salam Ahmed Haniyeh is a senior political leader of Hamas and formerly one of two disputed Prime Ministers of the Palestinian National Authority. Haniyeh became prime minister after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006.  President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah–Hamas conflict, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the Gaza Strip.

                                                                   

                Talking reconciliation

How close  is Fatah of the the Palestine Authority (PA) with Abbas as its leader, to Hamas of Gaza?  When the PA receives funds, are the Gazans getting a share of it and if so, how much? 

The Battle of Gaza in June 2007, been governed by Hamas, a Palestinian fundamentalist militant Islamic organization, which came to power in the last-held elections in 2006 with Obama's input. It has been placed under an Israeli and US-led international economic and political boycott from that time onwards.                                                                    

         Hamas set up the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades to pursue its political goals militarily.

Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood that emerged in the Gaza Strip in the late 1980s, during the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israel. The group’s ideology blends Islamism and Palestinian nationalism and seeks the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamic state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.  Since 2017, Hamas claims to have severed its ties to the Brotherhood. The group also receives financial and military support from Iran. Qatar has also provided significant funding for the group. They are the power in Gaza.  

                                                                          

Hamas has spent all its money from various Arab states for ammunition to use against Israel or even in building their own tunnels and rockets.  

Mahmoud Abbas, also called Abu Mazen, (born 1935, Safed, Palestine [now in Israel]), Palestinian politician who served briefly as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2003 and was elected its president in 2005 following the death of Yasser Arafat, chief terrorist.   Abbas, also known by the kunya Abu Mazen, is the president of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority. He has been the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization since 11 November 2004, PNA president since 15 January 2005, and State of Palestine president since 8 May 2005.  This is now 2021 and he is still the Chairman at age 86.  

 He was an early member of the Fatah movement and was instrumental in building networks and contacts that simultaneously laid the foundations for peace with Israel and for Palestinian self-determination through a two-state solution. Abbas, born in the mixed Arab-Jewish town of Safed, Palestine [now in Israel], fled with his family to Syria during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. 

                                                                               

Two Arab leaders: Mansour Abbas, leader of Israel’s United Arab List faction (Ra’am), and Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority and chairman of its ideological “parent,” the Palestine Liberation Organization.  Mansour Abbas has disavowed violence, and his Southern Branch is relatively moderate. It has fielded a party in Israeli elections for the past 25 years, usually in partnership with another Arab-Israeli slate. Until this year, the party, called the United Arab List (or Raam, as it is referred to in Israel), ran as part of the Joint List, an umbrella Arab-Israeli party that’s currently the third-largest in parliament.  They are not related to each other, they say.  I say, "Prove it by DNA."  Today these things can happen.  Finding 5th cousins is possible.

Abbas was lying through his teeth about having foundations for peace with Israel.  During a meeting of the Palestinian National Council in 2018, Abbas stated that Jews in Europe were massacred for centuries because of their "social role related to usury and banks." The speech was widely condemned by Israel, the United Nations, the European Union, Germany, Sweden, United States, former officials of the Obama administration, Peace Now and the Anti-Defamation League. A New York Times editorial said "Let Abbas's vile words be his last as Palestinian leader. 

There are frequent allegations that officials of the Palestinian Authority, including Abbas, have systematically embezzled public funds.

Abbas's mentor and predecessor, Yasser Arafat, was accused of embezzling billions of dollars of Palestinian money. This perceived corruption of the Fatah leadership is believed to have contributed to a convincing win by Hamas in the January 2006 parliamentary election. Fatah leaders were accused of siphoning funds from ministry budgets, passing out patronage jobs, accepting favors and gifts from suppliers and contractors.                 

" Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican 

opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.  A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally  notified Congress it 

 would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State 

 John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the

 State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said  written notification 

dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath

 of office.  In other words, the US sent $221 million dollars to the PA in Obama's 

last hours. Will they share this money with Hamas terrorists of Gaza?  

                                                               

                                                221 of these million dollar bills

In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also 

told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and

 $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. The aides and 

the State Department official weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and 

demanded anonymity.

Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 20

16, but at least two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the

 House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian

 Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. 

The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the 

money for the Palestinian Authority, which comes from the U.S. Agency for 

International Development and is to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank 

and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the 

notification sent to Congress. " Therefore, money to the PA does go to Gaza as well.

The total $235 million in assistance includes funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or Unrwa, which assists Palestinian refugees, along with economic and humanitarian assistance.                      

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid reflected the U.S. commitment to advance prosperity and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and a two-state solution. The move was praised by the Palestinians, and criticized by the Israelis. They know where it will go.   The office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed both the renewal of aid and previous statements supporting a two-state solution. The aid would fund infrastructure and basic services “for dealing with the difficult conditions that the Palestinian people are experiencing.  The effort could cost billions of dollars, and U.S. officials predicted it would be welcomed by Hamas. But would it moderate the militant group’s actions toward Israel?                        

          Rockets are seen being fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip, on May 12, 2021.

(photo credit: EDI ISRAEL/FLASH90)

This barrage lasted for 11 days with Israel's population kept that long in bomb shelters.  My opinion is that any money Hamas receives will go directly to rockets to use against Israel.  Where did they get the money to buy 4,000 rockets?  The arsenal of 14,000 rockets is believed to be worth millions.

On May 14, 2021, the news is that as the conflict intensifies despite U.S. calls for restraint, the administration notified Congress on Thursday that it will provide $10 million to Palestinian groups in the West Bank and Gaza to support exchange and reconciliation projects with Israelis. The recipients of the aid were not named.

It said the money would be spent mainly on cross-border projects between Israel 

and the West Bank and Gaza, but might also include programs for Jews and Arabs 

living in Israel.                                         

                                                 Gaza rocket hits bus, woman killed

The fighting between the two sides has been intensifying, with rocket attacks from 

Hamas militants in Gaza on Israel and increasing retaliation from the Israeli 

military. Violence between Arabs and Jews within Israel has also been increasing.

The Biden administration has made no secret of its belief that Trump’s approach to 

the Mideast, which alienated the Palestinians, was flawed and made prospects for 

peace less likely. The administration has announced $130 million in assistance to 

the Palestinians, which appears aimed at encouraging them to return to

 negotiations with Israel.                          

"Legislation enacted in 2018 is also significantly impacting U.S. aid to the 

Palestinians. Congress enacted the Taylor Force Act (Title X of P.L. 115-141) in 

March. This law augmented existing legislative provisions to suspend U.S. bilateral economic assistance for the PA unless and until Palestinian officials cease certain payments deemed under U.S. law to be “for acts of terrorism.” The Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ACTA, P.L. 115-253) became law in October, as an apparent way to ensure that the PLO and PA would be subject to jurisdiction in U.S. courts for past 

acts of Palestinian terrorism against U.S. citizens. Because the ATCA attempts to use U.S. aid to Palestinians as a means of establishing this jurisdiction, and Palestinian 

leaders apparently want to avoid that RS22967 December 12, 2018 Jim Zanotti 

Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians Congressional Research Service outcome, the ATCA might indirectly lead to a complete end of U.S. bilateral aid to the Palestinians by February 2019. The Trump Administration may  not have realized the possible impact of the ATCA when it was enacted, and reportedly may be trying to have Congress change the ATCA to 

facilitate the continuation of security assistance, at least."  

The Taylor Force Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress to stop American economic aid to the 

Palestinian Authority until the PA ceases paying  stipends through the Palestinian Authority 

Martyr's Fund to individuals  who commit acts of terrorism and to the families of deceased terrorists. Wikipedia

Acts amended: Foreign Assistance Act

U.S.C. sections amended: 22 U.S.C. § 2346

                                                                                

The downside is that Biden's financing the Palestinians means that Gaza will get a 

share of those millions and will use the money for rockets, etc, on Israel.  There is no

watchdog or method planned to keep this from happening.  The money may be

slipping into their bank just as it has to ours for various funds during the COVID 19

height to aid families.  Gaza is not accountable as to how it is spent.  

Resource:

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/where-does-the-palestinian-aid-money-go

https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/palestine#:~:text=and%20economic%20interests.-,The%20PLO%20Is%20Born,by%20the%20State%20of%20Israel.

https://www.counterextremism.com/threat/hamas?gclid=CjwKCAjwruSHBhAtEiwA_qCppk1-LsPkv9KDCpYow-Wt87Ye22kHiNd5x-z5B3LBGt07Fn8-r5qUlhoCEpsQAvD_BwE

https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/adl-fatah-hamas-accord-raises-serious-questions-about-palestinian-authoritys?gclid=CjwKCAjwruSHBhAtEiwA_qCppoD31MqXOSaALZm5ZmM03PP7Z7nu7ejBEk9kuN5bRqfYa1VI_mrlpBoCiusQAvD_BwE

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13331522

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Haniyeh

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahmoud-Abbas

https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-restoring-aid-to-palestinians-11617819667

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/20/us/politics/israel-gaza-hamas-biden-netanyahu.html

https://cmep.org/issues/resources-on-gaza/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0emHBhC1ARIsAL1QGNeI0BSGcrPNfY7CgCvLjwFWzt-XGrtocalIWDA42oFEEhPoQMi_jskaAp7eEALw_wcB

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22967.pdf