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| Europe | |
| EU admits it may have funded Bad Guys™ | |
| 2004-03-31 | |
| Tens of thousands of euro of EU funds may have been diverted to people linked with Palestinian terrorism, according to a report from the European Parliament, obtained by the EUobserver. The report cites documentary evidence seen by a Parliamentary working group- set up last year after allegations that EU funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) had been misused - that between 21,500-39,000 US dollars of EU funds may have been transferred to terrorists. It is the first time that the EU has judged its own funds to Palestine may not been used for their intended purpose. The allegations relate to funds given by the EU directly to the Palestinian Authority account from June 2001 until December 2002. The report details the work of a 13-member cross-party parliamentary group. It is due to be finalised this evening (31 March) behind closed doors and is, in many ways, inconclusive. The group says it does not yet have enough evidence to show funds were transferred directly to terrorists, but can show that monies were transferred from the PA to members of the Fatah group, which is linked to the 'Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' - a group on the EU's terror list. The Israeli intelligence services say that evidence yielded from military operations in the Palestinian territories show 2.5 million euro which was "requested and delivered" to the PA fell into terrorists hands, of which 39,000 US dollars can be proven to have been actually paid out. "Examination of the documents by the European Commission showed that payments to alleged Fatah activists had been authorised for a sum of 21,000 US dollars", according to the report. Although it adds: "a link between the Palestinian Authority budget structure and the financing of Fatah is difficult to clearly picture".
The Parliamentary report backed the Commission's aim of propping up the PA but criticised the method chosen. "The Commissioner [External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten] showed his best intentions in order to stabilise the situation and to encourage the reform of the PA institutions in a very difficult context". However it does conclude: "Budgetary Assistance was not the most appropriate financial instrument to be implemented". Sources taking part in the talks say there is still discussion over what constitutes evidence of funding terror which could change some details of the final text of the document. It is not clear when the Parliament will publish the report. | |
| Posted by:Korora |
| #17 Fred Pruitt, nine more Americans died today. VISITORS PLEASE NOTE: Delete spaces in censored URL below. http://A DLU SA.com |
| Posted by: Jones TROLL 2004-03-31 8:28:58 PM |
| #16 EU funds may have been diverted to people linked with Palestinian terrorism Whoa Nellie! Now there's a BGO.* *Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-02 11:30:00 PM |
#15 EU funds may have been diverted to people linked with Palestinian terrorismIn other news, water is wet. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-03-31 10:30:34 PM |
| #14 I understand that commingling funds leads to abuses, and there's no difference in the EU and Israeli-delivered tax funds in tehir possibility of end-use. When, however, has the EU taken th initiative in NOT delivering those funds in response to attacks. The Israelis did, and suffered EU/UN condemnation for "halting the peace process" - that's the difference. The EU has felt that delivering those funds while the attacks still proceed, will further the process...logic tossed aside |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-31 9:33:35 PM |
| #13 Frank G, if I'm not mistaken the EU sent that money for exactly the same purpose. And when haven't there been periods of attacks? Weren't there any after 2002? I'm a bit puzzled by this. The EU obviously wanted to avoid the total breakdown of PA authority in order to avoid chaos and a total collapse of the peace plan (which, if I'm not mistaken, the U.S. fully supported). Now maybe that's too naive but I think if Israel still sends money to the PA, a percentage of it probably ends up in terror funds as well. Obviously it's still in the interest of Israel to avoid the total breakdown of the PA or it would not have resumed the transfers. What am I missing here? Sounds like 1 or 2 percent has been diverted (at least if we believe that report.) Don't think that shekels are any safer from ending up in the wrong hands? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-03-31 9:07:49 PM |
| #12 Attention editors: Troll cleanup in aisle #11 please. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-03-31 8:40:39 PM |
| #11 Jones, and this is interesting because why...? If you ADL TROLLS had such a compelling message, you wouldn't have to TRAWL someone else's site! |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-03-31 8:32:51 PM |
| #10 TGA - that money, while fungible, was required to be released to the Paleos for their PA structure's administrative duties. The fact that a % was diverted, was a known issue, but insignificant in value compared to the EU funds in that it was withheld at significant PR cost to Israel, but WAS wittheld during periods of attacks, something the EU didn't do |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-31 8:09:41 PM |
| #9 I will ask over at LGF, somebody should know there. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-03-31 7:34:45 PM |
| #8 What I want to know is how much of it went into Suha's Twinkie Fund? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-03-31 7:33:01 PM |
| #7 TGA--Well, don't know about the terrorist supporting percentage, that is true. But it is just another example of the Israelis attempting to live up to their promises at Oslo while Arafart & Co ignored their promises. Kinda sad to think that they would be paying for their own murder, but hey, Americans have been doing that for a while, too. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-03-31 7:25:23 PM |
| #6 I'm not amused... but wait: "The EU paid around 10 million euro a month directly into the Palestinian Authority's budget during between June 2001 and December 2002 to help avert its financial collapse after Israel withheld tax transfers. The retention of the tax left the authority unable to pay staff and pay for basic public services, promoting the EU and other international donors to step in. The EU withdrew its direct assistance shortly after Israel resumed payments in June 2002." How much of THAT money goes to terrorists? Or do (I really don't know how this is handled) the way Israel pays out money exclude the transfer of money to terrorists? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-03-31 7:21:39 PM |
| #5 And these morons think Americans aren't very bright? Helloooooooo! You Paella-eating surrender monkeys are dumber than a box of hammers! The EU is Arafish's last source of moolah (except for whatever the Sods can sneak to him). |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-03-31 7:12:43 PM |
| #4 as I noted on LGF: apparently the EU doesn't read LGF or Rantburg, or they would've known a couple yrs ago |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-31 7:10:35 PM |
| #3 Oh yeah, this is a "f**kin Duh!" moment. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-03-31 7:04:51 PM |
| #2 Que sorpresa! |
| Posted by: Scott 2004-03-31 7:04:24 PM |
| #1 Note to EUniks: Money is fungible. Therefore, if you don't want your money going to terrorism, don't give it to terrorists. Period. End of story. |
| Posted by: wuzzalib 2004-03-31 7:01:15 PM |