Palestinian FM Robbed While on Aid Tour

[barb162]

04.30.2006 Sunday - ISTANBUL 10:30

Palestinian FM Robbed While on Aid Tour
By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Jerusalem, Oslo
Published: Thursday, April 27, 2006
zaman.com


Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar was reportedly robbed while on his Middle Eastern fundraising tour for Palestinians suffering as a result of the western countries’ decision to cut off financial aid.

Israeli Iltim news agency, citing the Kuwait news media, reported that Zahar had $450,000 stolen in a Kuwait hotel yesterday.

Though Zahar asked Kuwaiti officials to keep the robbery confidential, hotel security confirmed the mugging.

In a statement from Kuwait, Zahar said the HAMAS-led Palestinian government needs $140 million each month to pay the salaries of public servants.

snip
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=32518

Question: $450,000?????? stolen from the hotel room

[Ecumenist]

1. Now, that's a damn shame

And he got mugged for 400K in a hotel in Kuwait.. Was he carrying 400K around? I can't imagine anyone doing that.

[Scurrilous]

2. Well...

...banks have been reluctant to deal with the Palestinians as of late. I can see why he might have to carry around large sums of cash.


Millions of dollars stuck in Arab banks

<snip>

"Tens of millions of dollars in desperately needed aid for the Palestinians is stuck in Arab banks that won't release it for fear of US retribution, the Palestinian finance minister acknowledged. "The money is available. The problem is getting it here," the minister, Omar Abdel Razek of Hamas, said yesterday."

<snip>

"Israeli security commanders have expressed concern that suitcases of cash could be spirited into Gaza through the same tunnels from Egypt that are used for arms smuggling, according to Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to tell details to the media."

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/Navariednews.asp?dismode=article&artid=2070710596

[Ecumenist]

3. Something about this situation is just wrong

Who are we to treat other people like this, or should say, who are the thieves in chief to treat other nations like this?

[Scurrilous]

4. 400k is chickenfeed...

...compared to what's being stolen next door in Iraq.

Money for Nothing

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10659.htm

[Ecumenist]

10. yep, that's true...

I just think that there is so much out and out stealing going on that I can't understand why everyone can't see it. It's a slow motion drive-by of the ME and the Americas.

[Scurrilous]

14. Sack 'n Pillage...

...it's what Crusaders do.

[ShalachEtAmi]

5. Who keeps $450 000 in a hotel room...

What was it for ?

Incidental expenses?

He doesn`t use the minibar (alcohol) or watch pay per view (unclad women)...

...I wonder if the cash was insured....

[Scurrilous]

6. What are you trying to infer?

$450,000.00 in CASH is stolen from a hotel room and you bring up alcohol and unclad women.

Where did that come from?

[ShalachEtAmi]

7. Not infering anything...

In 5 star Hotels pay per view and mini bars are very expensive..

[Ecumenist]

8. What's that got to do with the price of tea in

China? I have nno idea what you're implying or going with this line of (il)logic. It's as clear as a mud window, ShalachEtAmi.. Welcome to DU:hi: enjoy your sabbatical here in the Land of the Sane...

[ShalachEtAmi]

9. LOL thanks for the welcome...

I will just end my part of the discussion here because your quite right it really has nothing to do with `the price of tea in china` and I really do not have any clue as to why he had $450 000 in his hotel room...

[Scurrilous]

11. Yep..

...why on earth would a man on a fundraising tour have money in his room?

It must be for something shady.

[Ecumenist]

12. No problem.

I still think that there's something really strange about this situations. Kuwait is in an area where having alot of money isn't all that unusual. Which us why I wonder why this amount of cash wasn't placed into a safe of some sort. There's a part of this situation is missing, a BIG PART of what happened.

[Scurrilous]

13. True...

...there aren't enough details available to ascertain exactly what happened. Maybe the money was placed in a safe. It wouldn't be the first time someone had something stolen from their room safe.

I don't find it odd though that he'd be carrying large amounts of cash. He is on a fundraising tour. It is entirely possible that some of those funds were given to him in cash.

[Ecumenist]

15. yes.. the cash isn't a big problem

but the theft and the whole situation surrounding the issue is really irritating me...

[Phx_Dem]

16. I was wondering whether it was a robbery

or burglary myself. The article is probably mixing up the use of the words, but I'm just guessing.