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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| EU cash 'not diverted to |
| 2004-08-11 |
| Tuesday, 10 August, 2004, 21:29 GMT 22:29 UK A European Union investigation has found no evidence that donations to the Palestinian Authority (PA) were used to fund terrorism. The EU, which is the biggest single contributor to the PA, launched the inquiry 18 months ago. The results were handed down by the same panel that concluded there was no genocide going on in Sudan. It followed allegations from Israel and European parliamentarians that money was going to illegal activities. The independent European Anti-Fraud Office said the inquiry was ongoing and final conclusions had not been drawn. "To date, there is no evidence that funds from the non-targeted EU direct budget assistance to the Palestinian Authorities have been used to finance illegal activities, including terrorism," said the anti-fraud office, known as OLAF, in a statement. OLAF had collected evidence from both Israel and the PA - as well as from the International Monetary Fund, which distributes EU funds in the Occupied Territories. Suha Arafat has demurred from providing a deposition in this matter. The EU was financing the PA's payroll of 125,000 employees until the allegations led to the suspension of direct funding to the PA and the launch of the investigation in February last year. This year, total aid to the Palestinians reached 250m euros (£167m), the European Commission said in July. And Arafat's Swiss bankers thank them wholeheartedly. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #9 "These Europeans...take the view which is in opposition to the logical reality." Yep. It's a result of 'sophistication training'. |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-08-11 15:39 |
| #8 If they admit diversion, they may be liable for millions in lawsuits. Superb point, mhw. Perhaps we need to connect the dots and bankrupt the EU so they can no longer assist our enemies. |
| Posted by: Anonymous6050 2004-08-11 15:24 |
| #7 Nah, they are just being typically EU. They figure if they fund the Islamo-loons against Israel this lot will be less likely to hit them. Well it worked for Spain didn't it? |
| Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge 2004-08-11 10:07 |
| #6 Oh yeah, and the Iraqi oil for food program was on the up and up, too, right? These Europeans are stupid, man. I mean they're so stupid. They almost always consistently take the view which is in opposition to the logical reality. |
| Posted by: Kentucky Beef 2004-08-11 09:18 |
| #5 This is ridiculous. Every cent that goes to the PA supports terrorism since the PA is a terrorist organization. Of course, the EUros don't mind because it's all the Jooooos fault anyway. |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-08-11 08:50 |
| #4 Yeah, there was probably nothing left after Yasshole did his skimming off the top and Suha took her Twinkie money. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-08-11 08:40 |
| #3 ...To date, there is no evidence that funds from the non-targeted EU direct budget assistance to the Palestinian Authorities have been used to finance illegal activities, including terrorism... All this means is that the auditors haven't found a transaction labeled 'terrorism - 1400 NIS' or something like that. The EU has a lot at stake in pretending to not know about the diversion of funds. If they admit diversion, they may be liable for millions in lawsuits. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-08-11 08:17 |
| #2 If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Were we still over there, paying taxes, I'd be even more |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-08-11 07:36 |
| #1 "La La La we can't hear you." |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-08-11 01:09 |