Schalits: Funneling money to Gaza unreasonable

In letter, Schalit family demands cessation of all Israeli transfers to Strip, claim funds used for terror.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
noam schalit new 224 88 (photo credit: Channel 2 [file])
noam schalit new 224 88
(photo credit: Channel 2 [file])
Noam and Aviva Schalit, the parents of kidnapped soldier Gilad, said Tuesday that Israel must prevent the funneling of shekels into the Gaza Strip. The government was allowing the transfer of millions of shekels to Hamas, which has held their son captive since June 2006, they said. This money, the Schalits said in a letter, removed any incentive for Hamas to finalize a deal with Israel for Gilad. The Schalits' attorneys sent the letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Aviva and Noam also asked that the government convene a special cabinet meeting to discuss their son. According to the letter, Noam was shocked to hear in a September 16 telephone conversation with Barak's military attaché, Brig.-Gen. Eitan Dangot, that Israel had been handing money over to various authorities in Gaza. The letter acknowledges that the funds were tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which were then given to the PA. A portion of those funds are used by the PA to pay the salaries of its Fatah supporters in Gaza. According to the Finance Ministry, Israel transfers some NIS 250 million in revenues a month to the PA, directly into an account controlled by its prime minister, Salaam Fayad. But the Schalits contend Israel had no control over the money, can not verify its use, and it is very likely paying for terrorist attacks against Israel. The funding went against the September 19, 2007, cabinet decision that designated the Gaza Strip an enemy entity with which contacts should be restricted. The attorneys who authored the letter said the High Court of Justice had ruled in the past that the transfers of funds should have gone before the cabinet or the security cabinet for authorization, and it called on the ministers to vote on the matter. Prime Minister's Office spokesman Mark Regev confirmed that the PA paid its Gazan employees with tax funds it had received from Israel. These workers were not affiliated with Hamas, he said. He added that "the prime minister and the government have nothing but understanding and support for the Schalit family. No one can know what they are going through unless they are in their shoes." The Tel Aviv-based Shurat Hadin-Israel Law Center has also asked the government to halt such activity. Organization head Nitzana Darshan-Leitner said the issue was much broader than tax revenues. Israel also allowed Gazans to exchange dollars for shekels, she said. The Finance Ministry confirmed this was true. Since Hamas can not openly receive money from abroad due to the international boycott, dollars are smuggled in, which are then, with Israel's help, exchanged for shekels, thereby allowing a cash flow within Gaza that helps Hamas stay in power, Darshan-Leitner said.