Documents found recently in the Gaza offices of the
Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PPSS) expose not
only the corruption and mismanagement of the Palestinian
Authority, but also reveal the channeling of PA funds toward
the financing and implementation of terrorist operation.
Among the documents found during the IDF's Operation Guardian
Fortress in Gaza were hundreds of receipts along with
photocopies of checks and other documents. These relate to
the transfer of sums of money, ranging from hundreds of
dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, to senior and
lower-level operatives and other elements. These funds,
originating from the budgets of the Preventive Security
apparatus and its independent sources of income were used not
only for preventive security (such as intelligence gathering
and preventive operations) but also to finance and initiate
terrorism.
Funds were also transferred to financial concerns in which
the Preventive Security leadership has interests, as well as
to payments providing "assistance" to the heads of the
Preventive Security apparatus, their cronies and those
favored by the Preventive Security authorities (including
senior political figures). The payments were transferred
directly by the Preventive Security apparatus, and
occasionally by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance.
On occasions, this occurred with Arafat's personal approval
and sometimes without his direct involvement. At times, the
funds were transferred directly to the beneficiaries, and at
other times, they received the payments through an
intermediary.
An analysis of the check receipts and documents point to
wastage, corruption and misuse of Palestinian Authority funds
for the direct and indirect financing of terrorism.
