Europeans to file complaint for misuse of donations...

[cantwealljustgetalong]

Representatives from Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland and the European Union are set to file a criminal complaint with the Palestinian Authority against Attorney Khader Shkirat, the lawyer for jailed Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and the former head of LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment. Shkirat headed the organization during the period of the Oslo Accords and the body received a hefty amount of funding from these states.

Haaretz has received a copy of the complaint due to be filed on Monday at the Palestinian Prosecutor's Office in the West Bank city of Ramallah against Shkirat and dozens of managerial level officials at LAW. The complaint hints at a host of improprieties and suspicions of criminal wrongdoing and alleges that huge amounts of money were stolen from the organization.

...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/371943.html

[drdon326]

1. Wow...

"The complaint states that some $2.35 million were transferred to secret bank accounts in Israel and the territories, and apparently were used for purposes unrelated to the organization's declared mission."

ouch.

[Muddleoftheroad]

2. Well, only $998 million to go

Or so, till they track down ALL of Arafat's money.

[Paschall]

3. Arafat? Did you read the article?

This complaint is being filed with the Palestinian authorities against Khader Shkirat and "dozens of managerial level officials at LAW."

"The representatives of these countries are also planning to meet Monday with the heads of the non-government organizations in the territories, after they file their complaint, and present them with the results of their investigation against Shkirat and LAW. ... The delegates are also expected to demand that these groups {NGOs} introduce new operating procedures as a condition for continued supports from the Western states. ... In summer 2002, the donor states requested the firm Ernst & Young to audit the organization's accounts {LAW's} from 1997-2002, during which time the group received $9.62 million in donations. ... The human rights group {LAW} is actually registered in Israel, but the donor states decided that filing a complaint with the Israeli authorities would be interpreted unfavorably by the Palestinian public and the PA."

[Muddleoftheroad]

4. Do they do sarcasm where you live?

Clearly not it would seem.

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

7. Sarcasm?

not with all the chubbies certain folks get about Arafat and his money around here (See Poppy's post below). Oh, I get it. Say it, then claim you were just kidding.

Just the sad 'kidding the the square' routine I guess.

B

[Muddleoftheroad]

8. I have posted numerous times about Arafat's theft of money

Never recall doing so and being, well, "excited" about it.

In fact, I am appalled by it. Theft of a billion dollars from a people who truly need it -- not for weapons, but for food.

My comment was an attempt to redirect us to the real problem with PA funding.

Next time, I will leave breadcrumbs.

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

9. that dog won't hunt

Your comment was hysterical partisan rhetoric.

"Never recall doing so and being, well, "excited" about it."

I think the Forbes article thread is with monica's blue dress at the cleaners.....3 billion!!!!!

B

[Gimel]

5. If this is true

The complaint hints at a host of improprieties and suspicions of criminal wrongdoing and alleges that huge amounts of money were stolen from the organization.

This reveals another suspicion of corruptness in the PA, outside of Arafat's syphoning off his 10% for his own pocket, and why the Palestinian people are in such a dreadful situation. Sharon may not help them much, but isn't the the PA that's supposed to be looking after their welfare? Stricking Israel is obviously not in the Palestinian people's best interest.

[GabysPoppy]

6. More on this story

Comfort and joy, Palestinian style
By David Frankfurter December 14, 2003


Yasser Arafat's personal wealth was assessed by Forbes magazine in March 2003 as marginally trailing the Queen of England's. His wife and daughter "make do" in their luxurious Paris quarters on a monthly allowance of €85,000 of Palestinian public funds, according to a CBS News analysis.

Sadly, it would seem that Arafat has no copyright on such liberties.

The PA's former Deputy Minister of Health, Munzar Al-Sharif, appropriated a complete medical laboratory - donated to his people by the German government - to a privately owned hospital. Palestinian Finance Ministry funds paid for the installation of an expensive air conditioning system in the foreign minister's Ramallah home. European loan financing intended to fund a Palestinian power plant was instead applied to the purchase of valuable real estate for the chairman of the PA's Energy Authority: there goes €1.7 million. Documented stories of UNRWA aid - food and medicines - finding their way to the black-market are legion.

In his little-reported resignation speech, Abu Mazen, former Palestinian Prime Minister, complained bitterly of tens of millions "stolen annually" and the rejection of his repeated attempts to implement controls over cash payments, which were met with "a silly excuse and a cover for theft" by Palestinian bureaucrats.

snip

http://directory.kol-israel.com/asites/?


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