From Russia to Iran…From Iran to the PA

From Iran to the PA

Iran has promised US $250 million dollars to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority [PA], says Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, turning the PA into a form of Iranian dependency.Haniyeh told a Hamas Internet site that the promised aid includes the following:

US $100 million during the course of 2007
US $45 million for aid to terrorist prisoners and their families
US $60 million for 100,000 unemployed for six months
US $20 million to rebuild destroyed houses
US $15 million for public libraries
Employees’ salaries in three PA government offices for six months
US $4.5 million for an airplane, refurbishing two more, and the purchase of 300 cars
Money to build 3 hospitals and 10 health clinics in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza over the next 10 years.

The PA’s annual budget is 6–8 times the above amount. Until Hamas came to power earlier this year, the European Union used to support the PA to the tune of US $600 million, and the United States used to give US $420 million. The two cut off the aid when Hamas refused to renounce terrorism or recognize Israel. However, they have given close to US $400 million in humanitarian aid, routing it through UN agencies to prevent it from reaching the Hamas government.