Haneya returns to Gaza, leaving money behind

Source: Xinhuanet | 12-15-2006 14:40

GAZA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya crossed Gaza-Egypt Rafah border crossing on Thursday night into the Gaza Strip after several hours blockade by Israel, Palestinian witnesses and security sources reported.

The security sources said that Haneya came from the Egyptian side of the crossing to the Palestinian side in the Gaza Strip, where he met with the European Union representatives.

Haneya's arrival into Gaza was delayed for several hours after Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz instructed his army to closedown the Rafah terminal to prevent Haneya from entering into Gaza with a large amount of money.

Thousands of Palestinians, including Hamas militants and supporters, waited outside the crossing to receive him, witnesses said.

Chanting "God is great", militants fired in the air as soon as Haneya's convoy showed up from Rafah crossing bordering Egypt.

Earlier in the day, Israel said Haneya would be admitted to Gaza via Rafah only if he leaves behind some 35 million U.S. dollars he had brought from a tour of Arab and Islamic states, Israel's newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

Israeli security sources was quoted as saying that the closure of Rafah is not aimed at stopping Haneya from entering into Gaza, but at the cash transfer for funding Hamas activities.

According to Palestinian witnesses, hundreds of angry Hamas militants stormed Rafah crossing and clashed with the Palestinian presidential guard which controls security at the terminal.

Palestinian medics reported that at least 15 people were injured during the exchange of gunfire.

Ghazi Hamad, spokesman of the Hamas-led government, said that "it was agreed with President Mahmoud Abbas that Haneya would leave the money in Egypt and enter into Gaza without it. The money then would be legally transferred to the government."

"It was agreed to transfer the money either to the Palestinian banks and then into the Finance Ministry's account, or through the Arab League," Hamad said, underscoring that the money is to help the Palestinian people out of severe economic crisis.

Haneya left Gaza on Nov. 28 and started his first tour abroad since assuming the prime minister in a bid to rally support for the Palestinian cause and breaking up political and financial blockade on the Palestinians.

The prime minister said on Wednesday that his regional tour which has taken him to Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Syria, Iran and Sudan was successful and had realized all the expected purposes.

The West has imposed financial boycott on Hamas since it formed a cabinet in late March. Hamas had to raise fund overseas in order to cover expenditure.

Some senior Hamas officials have taken into the strip millions of dollars in recent months, according to Israeli security sources.

Editor:Du Xiaodan