As Gaza Tunnels Closed, Hamas Lost Cash, Israeli Official Says

[question everything]

TEL AVIV — Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, is in severe economic straits, having lost a major source of income in recent months because of an Egyptian clampdown on hundreds of smuggling tunnels, a high-ranking Israeli military official told reporters at army headquarters here on Thursday.

Dozens of tunnels running beneath Gaza’s border with Egypt are still operating, he said, but the $200 million that Hamas collected annually in tax revenues from the tunnel trade has been reduced to a few million dollars at most.

(snip)

A variety of goods, including cheap flour, subsidized Egyptian fuel and building materials, had flowed into Gaza through the tunnels, as well as weapons and operatives, he said, describing the tunnel system as Gaza’s economic lifeline. More goods are being imported from Israel, but at a much higher cost.

More..

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/world/middleeast/hamas-cash-flow.html

[sabbat hunter]

1. a terror group

that seized absolute power in Gaza after winning a plurality of the vote is short of cash? Awww how sad for them /sarcasm

[Scootaloo]

2. That's kind of weird...

that seized absolute power in Gaza after winning a plurality of the vote

The word you're looking for is "retained," rather than "seized." If you'll remember, Fatah launched a coup attempt, backed by Israel and the US - Israel arrested Hamas members of parliament while Fatah gunmen took a rather more direct approach to eradicating Hamas in Gaza... and lost.

With the resulting total loss of Fatah influence in Gaza - many were executed very nastily as traitors (which, as coup plotters and terrorists against the Palestinian government, WAS technically true... but still, yech) and the near-total ban on travel between Gaza and the west bank, this has left Hamas as the sole power in Gaza.

Much as with the Sinai Terrorist Preserve, i can only conclude that this is the result Israel desires Or maybe it's hoping Islamic Jihad will replace Hamas. There's a fucking stellar idea.

[sabbat hunter]

3. well lets see if we can agree on the timeline of events

Early Jan 2006 Hamas won a plurality of the vote (not a majority), as a result would go in to a national unity government with Fatah to form a coalition government
On January 30, 2006, (United States, Russia, United Nations, and European Union) conditioned future foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the future government's commitment to non-violence, recognition of the State of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. Hamas rejected these demands.

2007 Hamas was unable to manage the government and pay the salaries this led to the clashes between Hamas and Fatah
in the last months of 2006 there was factional fighting between the PA forces (The legal police of the PA) and Hamas illegal armed groups (terror/paramilitary groups which were supposed to be intergrated with the PA forces, but Hamas refused to do so)

Feb 2007, negotiations in Mecca led to an agreement of a national unity government, signed by Abbas on behalf of Fatah and Mashal on behalf of Hamas.

March 2007 unity government sworn in.

June 2007 Hamas felt that the PA presidential guard was going to try to take control of Gaza, leading to armed conflicts between the PA troops and Hamas

June 10 Hamas seized several Fatah members and murdered them by throwing them off of a 15 story building. PA retaliated by doing the same to Hamas members

June 11 Abbas's residence, and Haniya (the hamas PM) homes were targeted with gun and shell fire

June 12 - 14 Hamas gunmen attacked posts held by Fatah.

June 14 Abbas dissolved the PA - Hamas unity government

June 15 Hamas completed its control over Gaza

Now I guess the difference is if you think that the PA was going to try to go after Hamas, or Hamas acted first.

But it seems like that Hamas acted first, forced the PA out, took complete control over Gaza.

[King_David]

4. " Fatah launched a coup attempt"

Ha ha even that narrative is bogus. Not that I care but it's always been interesting factoid by American or European "Hamas Whitewashees"

Got a link for us that's not Vanity Fair?

[Scootaloo]

5. Well, I see no reason to discount Vanity Fair's piece

Particularly not at the behest of someone prone to using Kenneth Meshoe as an infallible source.

There's also this neat little thing detailing Elliot Abrams' meeting with Palestinian business leaders, and the funneling of arms and funding to Fatah.

Here's SFGate's piece from 2006 outlining training and funding going to Fatah to undermine Hamas.

In december 2006, Abbas called for early elections, in an effort to get hamas out of the government. Hamas claimed this was illegal and likened it to a coup attempt, and vowed to protest trhough peaceful measures.

During a rally in celebration of hamas' 19th anniversary, Fatah gunmen opened fire on rallygoers, and Haniyeh's motorcade. ( http://classic-web.archive.org/web/20080314202950/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/793DD747-A1B7-4BE3-B120-0CF171612495.htm ) Hamas' characterization of this as an assassination attempt seems perfectly believable.

There were clear efforts by the US and entrenched Arab governments to empower Fatah against Hamas and encourage a coup attempt prior to the conflict, and Fatah enlisted Israel's help once it started to lose its attempt - But of course, Israel was already involved through other means as well.

It was a coup plotted as early as 2005, backed by the US, Jordan, and Egypt, and aided by Israel. On the face of it, the coup failed - unless you count the paralyzation of the Palestinian government to be a success, which I guess the four other nations involved likely do.

[King_David]

6. The only coup was Hamas taking power

By throwing fellow Palestinians off roof tops.

They now have Gaza and will never relinquish power . The only way that a 3 state "solution " will not occur is if somehow they grab power in the west bank too.

What does Kenneth Meshoe say now ?

Israel , Palestine 1 and Palestine 2

That's the future.

[Scootaloo]

7. So, you ask for sources, then ignore them?

Sorry Dave. You're just wrong. You've always been wrong, and so far as I can see, you'll never stop being wrong. Maybe you should apply for a job at CBS.

[King_David]

8. thats a great argument you have there:

' You're just wrong. You've always been wrong,'