Palestinians in hardship loose 92 Hamas linked charity outlets at Abbas orders

Source: Compiled by Daily Star, 04-12-2007
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has closed 92 charities linked to Hamas, officials announced on Monday, as part of an intensifying West Bank crackdown on the Islamic group which took control of security in Gaza and is challenging his efforts to negotiate a peace deal with "Israel".
Earlier in the day, "Israel" released 429 Palestinian prisoners to try to build on the momentum from last week's Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in which Abbas and "Israeli" Premier Ehud Olmert said they would aim to reach a peace deal in 2008.
Joy mixed with tears as buses carrying the prisoners, most from Abbas' Fatah faction, rolled into his walled headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Many had been arrested at the height of the Palestinian uprising several years ago, and were struggling with the transition to a new era of negotiations.
Tareq Abu Lail, 24, said he hoped for peace, but doubted he would see success. Sentenced to eight years, he got out after three and said he was proud of his role in the uprising. The release, the largest in three years, was meant to boost Abbas, who is hoping to win over a public skeptical about his peace efforts, and at the same time trying to beat back challenges from Hamas.
Since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in June, Abbas has moved systematically against the group in the West Bank.
Abbas' security forces have arrested hundreds of Hamas supporters, and he issued tougher anti-money laundering regulations to cut off Hamas funding from abroad.
On Monday, Abbas' information minister, Riad Malki, said the government in the West Bank dissolved 92 Hamas-linked charity committees.
The committees were formed by prominent local and religious leaders under the supervision of the Religious Affairs Ministry. The committees collect money and distribute it to the poor, usually during religious holidays. They were ordered closed two weeks ago, but the announcement was made Monday.
Malki claimed the committees were infiltrated by Hamas activists in previous years of Fatah rule.
One of the committees closed by Abbas, in the West Bank city of Nablus, said it provided aid to 3,200 families and 3,000 orphans, at a cost of 150,000 Jordanian dinars ($212,000) to 200,000 Jordanian dinars a month.
The head of the committee, Abdel-Rahim Hanbali, said most of the money came from local donations.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the closure of the charities would lead to hunger in the West Bank. "It's an attempt to weaken Hamas, but the Palestinian citizen will pay the price, because they benefit from these committees."
Hamas' network of charities, schools and clinics was a key factor in the rising popularity of the movement and contributed to its victory over Fatah in 2006 legislative polls. At the same time, Fatah was weakened by deadlock in peace talks with "Israel" and widespread official corruption and mismanagement.
As part of the renewed US-led peace efforts, Abbas has been pushing for "Israeli" confidence-building measures, such as prisoner releases, that would boost support for his policies.
"Israel" is still holding more than 9,000 prisoners, and their release is a central Palestinian demand. About 770 have been freed since July, far short of Palestinian expectations.
"Israel" held up the transfer Monday of 25 Russian armored vehicles to Palestinian police in the West Bank, because the Palestinians want to have them mounted with machine guns, security officials said.