Hamas officials say Iran to fill funding void

[Stockholm]

GAZA (Reuters) - Iran has agreed to provide a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority with enough money to make up for any cuts in foreign aid, a senior Hamas official said on Tuesday.

But the official, Khalil Abu Laila, and other Hamas spokesmen could not confirm a report in the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that Tehran promised the group's leader, Khaled Meshaal, about $250 million to compensate for the loss of U.S. and European aid.

Al-Hayat quoted Palestinian sources in Damascus, where Meshaal lives in exile. Meshaal visited Tehran and other regional powers earlier this month in search of financial support for the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

"Iran has promised to make up for any cut in aid," Abu Laila told Reuters in Gaza.

more http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-02-28T111553Z_01_L28517064_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-PALESTINIANS.xml

[Stockholm]

1. Weird

I would think an administration policy failure like this would interest DU?

[Behind the Aegis]

2. This is one of those "we have to wait and see" issues.

In the past, a number of Arab and Muslim nations have pledged monetary support to the PA, but have always failed to deliver. Unfortunately, the Palestinians are usually pawns for other nations to whip up anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli sentiment.

[Stockholm]

4. As for actually releasing the funds I completely agree

But any fool could have guessed that someone else would step in to fill the vacuum after Israels and Americas decision to cut of the funds.

This was one of the reasons Sweden and then the EU increased their funding. In this instance GWB & Co really screwed up and handed Iran some major PR points on a gold plate.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. I so agree with you!

"In this instance GWB & Co really screwed up and handed Iran some major PR points on a gold plate." Truer words were never spoken!

However, Iran is usually all talk when it comes to funding Palestinians. They only care about one thing...killing the Jews. So, we will have to wait and see if it even happens.

I don't think the Palestinian people should suffer for their hateful government. I have no issue with funding humanitarian groups. I cannot support the funding of Hamas.

[peacebird]

3. once again - the preznit proves he is a "uniter"

[Demeter]

6. I Hope Israel Is Happy

since they're un-neighborly witholding of Palestinian tax revenues is the reason for the shortfall Iran has offered to make up.

And I hope the NeoCons are happy, as Israel becomes still more isolated and dispised by the millions of Arabs and affiliates surrounding them.

This is not the way to Peace in the Middle East, Fatheads! Israel's continued existence has just become that much less likely. And Uncle Sam isn't pulling those chestnuts out of the fire, believe me!

[oblivious]

7. Maybe it's not Hamas whose isolated after all.