The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has requested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the transfer of NIS 54 million (approximately $12 million) to Gaza banks, which he authorized Wednesday,
stating the money will go towards the salaries of Palestinian Authority employees in Gaza.
“All the cash which enters the Gaza Strip adds up to the cash balance of the branches of the banks, which absorb the money . . . the cash finds its way to the whole banking system in Gaza, including the National Islamic Bank which Hamas has opened last month,” Nachi Eyal, the General Director of the Legal Forum, told Netanyahu.
“The moment that the money is in the bank, anyone having an account can draw cash from his account.”
This means, Eyal said, “that the Government of Israel is lending a hand to the strengthening of Hamas, and is aiding the terrorist organization which seeks [Israel’s] destruction, by, amongst other things, providing salaries to the Hamas personnel.”
Eyal said that “most importantly, the cash is used to pay for the goods, smuggled through the tunnels of the Philadelphia line, and perhaps even for the weapons which will return to Israel, mostly to Sderot, Ashkelon, and the belt around Gaza, in the form of Qassam rockets.”
Eyal said that Netanyahu, who had previously opposed such transfers, had received a mandate from the public to lead the government in a different direction than it had been under the previous administration “in which Israel subsidized Hamas,” which in turn attacked Israeli citizens.
“Stopping Israeli participation in this process,” Eyal said, “will send a clear message against terrorism and against the possibility of arming Hamas and the renewal of the war against us in the south.”
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Please see the English translation of the Legal Forum's letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the transfer.
The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel advocates for "Jewish rights to and in the Land of Israel," fundraises for legal projects in Israel and is affiliated with the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel. For more information please visit http://www.americanlegalforum.org.
The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel works to protect civil rights in Israel, for government reform, and the national interests of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. For more information on the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel visit http://www.haforum.org.il (Hebrew) or http://www.americanlegalforum.org.
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