The cash, the equivalent of some $820,000, was discovered in the baggage of the Hamas spokesman as he made his way into Gaza from Egypt. European Union inspectors confiscated the money, which was over 400 times more than the amount permitted without declaration. A band of Hamas gunmen arrived on the scene demanding the return of the money, but they were soon dispersed.
PA Chairman Abu Mazen ordered the money transferred to the prosecution offices of the PA, and demanded an investigation into the Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhari, and his activities.
However, Abu Zuhari said this week that the money had in fact been officially given to the PA's interior minister on May 22. Speaking with the official Hamas publication, Abu Zuhari promised that the donations would reach their "correct destinations."
Earlier this week, PA affairs correspondent Dalit HaLevy reports, Hamas Authority officials said that economic aid would be partially used to pay for the interior ministry's special security force. Members of the force were recruited from the Popular Resistance Committees and Izaddin Al-Kassam terrorist groups.
"This story reflects once again," HaLevy writes, "the weakness of the Palestinian presidential institution and the judicial system, as well as of the international monitoring mechanism at the border crossing."
In the meanwhile, public institutions in the PA are failing, while those supported by smuggled Hamas monies are thriving. In Shechem (Nablus), for instance, the government's Refidia Hospital is having trouble supplying services in light of the ongoing lack of money for salaries and medicines. Many families therefore turn to the Tidamon clinic, run by a Hamas charity organization that also provides help for families of shahids [suicide terrorists] and prisoners.
Hamas-Fatah tensions showed a sign of relaxing this morning when the Hamas Interior Minister ordered his special forces to reduce their presence on the streets of Gaza. The minister formed the force when he saw that the Fatah security forces were not adhering to his instructions.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz confirmed last night Israel's contribution of weapons and ammunition to forces loyal to Abu Mazen.
A Fatah policeman was killed in clashes Thursday with Hamas, the 12th casualty of the fighting thus far. At least five people were wounded in the most recent gunfight, which took place almost at the same time that Fatah and Hamas representatives met to discuss a ceasefire.
PA Chairman Abu Mazen ordered the money transferred to the prosecution offices of the PA, and demanded an investigation into the Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhari, and his activities.
However, Abu Zuhari said this week that the money had in fact been officially given to the PA's interior minister on May 22. Speaking with the official Hamas publication, Abu Zuhari promised that the donations would reach their "correct destinations."
Earlier this week, PA affairs correspondent Dalit HaLevy reports, Hamas Authority officials said that economic aid would be partially used to pay for the interior ministry's special security force. Members of the force were recruited from the Popular Resistance Committees and Izaddin Al-Kassam terrorist groups.
"This story reflects once again," HaLevy writes, "the weakness of the Palestinian presidential institution and the judicial system, as well as of the international monitoring mechanism at the border crossing."
In the meanwhile, public institutions in the PA are failing, while those supported by smuggled Hamas monies are thriving. In Shechem (Nablus), for instance, the government's Refidia Hospital is having trouble supplying services in light of the ongoing lack of money for salaries and medicines. Many families therefore turn to the Tidamon clinic, run by a Hamas charity organization that also provides help for families of shahids [suicide terrorists] and prisoners.
Hamas-Fatah tensions showed a sign of relaxing this morning when the Hamas Interior Minister ordered his special forces to reduce their presence on the streets of Gaza. The minister formed the force when he saw that the Fatah security forces were not adhering to his instructions.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz confirmed last night Israel's contribution of weapons and ammunition to forces loyal to Abu Mazen.
A Fatah policeman was killed in clashes Thursday with Hamas, the 12th casualty of the fighting thus far. At least five people were wounded in the most recent gunfight, which took place almost at the same time that Fatah and Hamas representatives met to discuss a ceasefire.