THEY DID THIS WITH THE PLA THEY STILL DO
Paul Squire
Mon, 11 December 2023
Israeli Prime Minister "Bibi" Netanyahu allowed millions in funds to flow to Hamas, the New York Times reported.picture alliance; Getty Images
Israel tacitly encouraged Hamas to stay in power, according to the New York Times.
In some cases, Israeli support was more obvious.
Israeli security forces would help escort millions in funds into Gaza, helping Hamas, NYT reported.
Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.
But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu's government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.
The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu's critics, and the man's own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.
Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn't think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.
To keep Hamas propped up, Netanyahu's government worked with Qatari to keep the money flowing, the New York Times reported. Israel knew that Qatar was supporting Hamas, but didn't oppose the payments and even lobbied American lawmakers not to sanction Qatar.
In 2018, Netanyahu's administration came up with a plan, according to the New York Times. As part of a peace agreement with Hamas, Qatar would bring millions into Gaza to distribute to Gazan families, the outlet reported.
Israeli security officials would meet with a Qatari diplomat at the border between Israel and Jordan, according to the New York Times report.
They would then drive him past the border crossing and into Gaza, according to the outlet.
Though the money was meant for Gazan civilians, Western intelligence determined that Hamas was taking money from the funds to use themselves, the outlet reported.
The propped-up peace lasted until October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a terror attack across the Israeli border. The militants killed about 1,200 people and took dozens more hostage, Israeli officials said.
Israel has since responded with a massive bombing and ground campaign in Gaza. About 17,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Hamas-led Gazan health authorities.
Though a short ceasefire allowed a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, the fighting has since continued.
Paul Squire
Mon, 11 December 2023
Israeli Prime Minister "Bibi" Netanyahu allowed millions in funds to flow to Hamas, the New York Times reported.picture alliance; Getty Images
Israel tacitly encouraged Hamas to stay in power, according to the New York Times.
In some cases, Israeli support was more obvious.
Israeli security forces would help escort millions in funds into Gaza, helping Hamas, NYT reported.
Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.
But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu's government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.
The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu's critics, and the man's own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.
Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn't think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.
To keep Hamas propped up, Netanyahu's government worked with Qatari to keep the money flowing, the New York Times reported. Israel knew that Qatar was supporting Hamas, but didn't oppose the payments and even lobbied American lawmakers not to sanction Qatar.
In 2018, Netanyahu's administration came up with a plan, according to the New York Times. As part of a peace agreement with Hamas, Qatar would bring millions into Gaza to distribute to Gazan families, the outlet reported.
Israeli security officials would meet with a Qatari diplomat at the border between Israel and Jordan, according to the New York Times report.
They would then drive him past the border crossing and into Gaza, according to the outlet.
Though the money was meant for Gazan civilians, Western intelligence determined that Hamas was taking money from the funds to use themselves, the outlet reported.
The propped-up peace lasted until October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a terror attack across the Israeli border. The militants killed about 1,200 people and took dozens more hostage, Israeli officials said.
Israel has since responded with a massive bombing and ground campaign in Gaza. About 17,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Hamas-led Gazan health authorities.
Though a short ceasefire allowed a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, the fighting has since continued.
Israel sent suitcases of cash into Gaza for years despite concerns about funding Hamas
Nataliya Vasilyeva
Mon, 11 December 2023
The plan was signed off by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government - AFP
Israeli officials shuttled suitcases filled with Qatari-provided cash to Gaza for years, despite concerns the money was being used to fund Hamas’s military wing, it has emerged.
The plan, signed off by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, was said to be an attempt to “buy quiet” in the enclave but critics say it ended up supporting the group’s murderous assault on Israel two months ago.
Tens of millions of dollars intended for day-to-day administration of the territory were handed out each month by a Qatari diplomat who would meet Israeli security officials at the Jordan border before being driven into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, The New York Times reported.
Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh (L) receives Chairman of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) at his residence in Gaza City in 2019 - Anadolu
Mohammed al-Emadi would initially bring about $15 million to distribute, with $100 bills handed out to a list of families approved by the Israeli government, the newspaper cited multiple current and former Israeli officials as saying.
That sum reportedly doubled by 2021.
The report comes at a sensitive time for Mr Netanyahu, who is facing mounting questions over how he dealt with Hamas prior to its October 7 attacks on Israel.
Claims are ridiculous, says Netanyahu
He has dismissed claims he helped prop up the terror group as “ridiculous”.
Mr Netanyahu’s approval of the payments, which added up to billions of dollars in total, was a political gamble driven by the belief that a steady flow of cash would ensure peace in Gaza after a 2014 war in the enclave, the officials said.
His view was that a strong Hamas, buttressed by the money, would act as a counterweight to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and lessen pressure on him to negotiate over the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Kerem Shalom commercial crossing into Gaza - Abed Rahim Khatib / Avalon
The money was intended to keep the local government running, pay salaries to public servants and teachers and buy fuel to keep a power plant functioning while Israel was publicly pursuing a policy of blockading Gaza.
But Israel’s allies had long assessed that Hamas was skimming off funds from the cash disbursements, with some of the funds diverted to the group’s military wings, one senior Western diplomat said.
Risking Israel’s safety with payments
Israel’s Mossad spy agency also eventually came to conclude that Qatar was using funding channels to secretly finance Hamas’s military arm, the New York Times reported.
Opponents of the strategy within Mr Netanyahu’s government warned the longtime Israeli leader was risking his country’s safety with the payments, which while ostensibly a secret, have been widely known and discussed in Israel for years.
Avigdor Lieberman, the former defence minister who resigned in November 2018 over the issue, told The New York Times the plan was a ploy by the prime minister to stay “in power at any cost” and had directly led to the October 7 attacks.
Naftali Bennett, Mr Lieberman’s successor, was also critical of the payments, calling them “protection money” before later continuing the policy while serving as prime minister for a year from June 2021 onwards.
Yossi Cohen, who managed the Qatari file for many years as the chief of Mossad, publicly opposed the strategy after retiring the same month.
“We had hoped that Qatari involvement and Qatari money would lead to a settlement with Hamas,” Mr Cohen said in June 2021. “But things got a little out of control.”
Meanwhile, Israel is facing controversy over photos showing the IDF parading half-naked Palestinian men in Gaza.
Several Israeli media outlets including those who are embedded with Israel troops last weekend shared photos and videos showing half-naked men riding in the back of an Israeli military truck and standing on their knees on a city square.
Tzahi Hanegbi, director of the National Security Council Director, told Kan Radio on Monday the display “did not serve any purpose” even if the troops did have to strip down the men.
“I hope that there will be many more pictures of people surrendering without fighting and handing over their weapons,” he said.
“They will be checked but then will get dressed and should not be taken [prisoner] in the manner seen in the pictures.”
‘False sense of victory’
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspapers criticised the IDF for showing off bulldozed Palestine Square in Gaza City and a massive Hanukkah menorah in the middle, arguing that the images give Israelis a false sense of victory and make it look as if the goal of the war was to occupy Gaza.
“If the Israeli flag is still flying over Palestine Square in another few months’ time, that will be a sign that we’re stuck with a very big problem,” the paper said on Monday.
On the border with Lebanon, the IDF on Monday sent fighter jets to strike Hezbollah targets in response to rocket launches on northern Israel.
Lebanese media reported that one of the IDF attacks on Monday killed the village chief in southern Lebanon when a shell fell near his home.
Separately, questions were raised about Israel’s use of white phosphorus in Lebanon earlier this year.
The Washington Post in an investigation on Monday confirmed that Israel fired US-supplied white phosphorus on southern Lebanon in October in an attack that experts believe could constitute a war crime.
Remnants of three 155-millimetre artillery rounds, used to fire white phosphorus, were found in Dheira, near the border of Israel by a Washington Post reporter.
The lot production codes on the munitions identify them as being made in the US, the Post found.
Nataliya Vasilyeva
Mon, 11 December 2023
The plan was signed off by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government - AFP
Israeli officials shuttled suitcases filled with Qatari-provided cash to Gaza for years, despite concerns the money was being used to fund Hamas’s military wing, it has emerged.
The plan, signed off by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, was said to be an attempt to “buy quiet” in the enclave but critics say it ended up supporting the group’s murderous assault on Israel two months ago.
Tens of millions of dollars intended for day-to-day administration of the territory were handed out each month by a Qatari diplomat who would meet Israeli security officials at the Jordan border before being driven into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, The New York Times reported.
Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh (L) receives Chairman of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) at his residence in Gaza City in 2019 - Anadolu
Mohammed al-Emadi would initially bring about $15 million to distribute, with $100 bills handed out to a list of families approved by the Israeli government, the newspaper cited multiple current and former Israeli officials as saying.
That sum reportedly doubled by 2021.
The report comes at a sensitive time for Mr Netanyahu, who is facing mounting questions over how he dealt with Hamas prior to its October 7 attacks on Israel.
Claims are ridiculous, says Netanyahu
He has dismissed claims he helped prop up the terror group as “ridiculous”.
Mr Netanyahu’s approval of the payments, which added up to billions of dollars in total, was a political gamble driven by the belief that a steady flow of cash would ensure peace in Gaza after a 2014 war in the enclave, the officials said.
His view was that a strong Hamas, buttressed by the money, would act as a counterweight to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and lessen pressure on him to negotiate over the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Kerem Shalom commercial crossing into Gaza - Abed Rahim Khatib / Avalon
The money was intended to keep the local government running, pay salaries to public servants and teachers and buy fuel to keep a power plant functioning while Israel was publicly pursuing a policy of blockading Gaza.
But Israel’s allies had long assessed that Hamas was skimming off funds from the cash disbursements, with some of the funds diverted to the group’s military wings, one senior Western diplomat said.
Risking Israel’s safety with payments
Israel’s Mossad spy agency also eventually came to conclude that Qatar was using funding channels to secretly finance Hamas’s military arm, the New York Times reported.
Opponents of the strategy within Mr Netanyahu’s government warned the longtime Israeli leader was risking his country’s safety with the payments, which while ostensibly a secret, have been widely known and discussed in Israel for years.
Avigdor Lieberman, the former defence minister who resigned in November 2018 over the issue, told The New York Times the plan was a ploy by the prime minister to stay “in power at any cost” and had directly led to the October 7 attacks.
Naftali Bennett, Mr Lieberman’s successor, was also critical of the payments, calling them “protection money” before later continuing the policy while serving as prime minister for a year from June 2021 onwards.
Yossi Cohen, who managed the Qatari file for many years as the chief of Mossad, publicly opposed the strategy after retiring the same month.
“We had hoped that Qatari involvement and Qatari money would lead to a settlement with Hamas,” Mr Cohen said in June 2021. “But things got a little out of control.”
Meanwhile, Israel is facing controversy over photos showing the IDF parading half-naked Palestinian men in Gaza.
Several Israeli media outlets including those who are embedded with Israel troops last weekend shared photos and videos showing half-naked men riding in the back of an Israeli military truck and standing on their knees on a city square.
Tzahi Hanegbi, director of the National Security Council Director, told Kan Radio on Monday the display “did not serve any purpose” even if the troops did have to strip down the men.
“I hope that there will be many more pictures of people surrendering without fighting and handing over their weapons,” he said.
“They will be checked but then will get dressed and should not be taken [prisoner] in the manner seen in the pictures.”
‘False sense of victory’
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspapers criticised the IDF for showing off bulldozed Palestine Square in Gaza City and a massive Hanukkah menorah in the middle, arguing that the images give Israelis a false sense of victory and make it look as if the goal of the war was to occupy Gaza.
“If the Israeli flag is still flying over Palestine Square in another few months’ time, that will be a sign that we’re stuck with a very big problem,” the paper said on Monday.
On the border with Lebanon, the IDF on Monday sent fighter jets to strike Hezbollah targets in response to rocket launches on northern Israel.
Lebanese media reported that one of the IDF attacks on Monday killed the village chief in southern Lebanon when a shell fell near his home.
Separately, questions were raised about Israel’s use of white phosphorus in Lebanon earlier this year.
The Washington Post in an investigation on Monday confirmed that Israel fired US-supplied white phosphorus on southern Lebanon in October in an attack that experts believe could constitute a war crime.
Remnants of three 155-millimetre artillery rounds, used to fire white phosphorus, were found in Dheira, near the border of Israel by a Washington Post reporter.
The lot production codes on the munitions identify them as being made in the US, the Post found.
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