Palestinian Authority cracks down on Hamas charities
RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has reported the closure of 92
charities linked to Hamas.
Officials said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ordered the West Bank charities
closed in November 2007, Middle East Newsline reported. They said this marked the largest crackdown against
Hamas's financial structure since the mid-1990s.
"They transformed the charity committees into financial empires to serve
their political ends and means," PA Information Minister Riyad Al Maliki
said on Dec. 3.
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[On Wednesday, Hamas reported that PA security forces detained 18
Islamic operatives in the West Bank. Hamas said PA General Intelligence
conducted the arrests in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah and Tulkarm.]
Al Maliki said Hamas established charity committees throughout the West
Bank for distribution to the poor. He said the PA shut them down in late
November ahead of the Islamic festival of Id Al Adha, scheduled to take
place in three weeks.
Officials said the charities had been under the supervision of the PA
Religious Affairs Ministry. They said the charities earned most of their
revenues during Islamic holidays.
The PA plans to establish 11 charity committees to replace those of
Hamas, officials said. Hamas has criticized the PA decision.
"It's an attempt to weaken Hamas," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
"But the Palestinian citizens will pay the price, because they benefit from
these committees."
