Hard time for Islamic Jihad: Budget cut in Syria means terror group can't meet payroll Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
GAZA CITY Ñ The Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad is down on its luck due to a financial crisis.
Palestinian sources said Jihad has failed to acquire most of its budget from headquarters in Syria. The sources said this has resulted in Jihad's failure to pay operatives and purchase weapons for attacks on Israel.
"Only aid from Iran continues to come in, and that too is only for bereaved families and charities," Islamic Jihad deputy secretary-general Ziad Al Nahla said.
Al Nahla said Israel and the Palestinian Authority have confiscated millions of dollars in donations from Arab and Muslim states. In an interview to the Saudi-based daily A-Sharq Al Awsat, Al Nahla said the funds had been transferred to Palestinian and Jordanian banks in the West Bank.
The funding shortage has not paralyzed Jihad activities in the Gaza Strip. But the sources said Jihad has been forced to curtail missile and rocket strikes on Israel from the Gaza Strip amid the decline in funding.
"We can still guarantee minimum requirements," Al Nahla said. "The money reaches the Gaza Strip via the tunnels, just like the weapons."
Iran was said to be the largest donor of Jihad, established in 1987. Several Gulf Cooperation Council states, particularly Qatar, were said to have sent funds to Jihad as well.
The sources said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has proposed a joint command of Hamas and Jihad. They said IRGC envisioned Jihad establishing units in Hamas's military in the Gaza Strip in an effort to enhance the combat ability of Iran's proxies.
Jihad leaders have been divided over the IRGC proposal. Critics said Jihad would be eliminated in any merger with Hamas.
The two Islamic movements have argued over Western pressure for a dialogue with Israel. The sources said Hamas has not ruled out a temporary ceasefire with Israel, something strenuously opposed by Jihad.
Jihad dissidents said Hamas has sought to dominate the opposition group. They said Hamas has detained Jihad squads and take over their mosques.
For its part, Hamas has been concerned by the conversion to Shi'ism by Jihad members. Hamas said Jihad members were adopting Shi'ite Islam in an effort to secure support from Teheran