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| By Israel Insider staff June 24, 2007 |
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Iran equipped and oversaw Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, charged the Palestinian Authority intelligence chief Sunday, adding that Tehran was responsible for training hundreds of militants.
Tawfiq Tirawi also pointed a finger at Syria -- which is in close relationship with Iran, and which offers sanctuary and support to Hamas leadership, including Khaled Mashal.
Speaking to journalists, Tirawi said that a month before Hamas began its battle to take Gaza, its Damascus-based-and protected leaders met the heads of Hamas' "military wing" in an Arab capital.
"In this meeting, they discussed all the details of the operation," Tirawi charged.
Tirawi warned that Hamas members had stockpiled weapons in Samaria and Judea and could use them in attacks on sites belonging to the Fatah-controlled PA.
In related news, Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas told German newspaper Der Spiegel Saturday that he personally carried $42 million in cash from Iran into Gaza.
While Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the allegations as "baseless fabrication," they will likely help to underpin the Olmert government's decision to openly take the side of Abbas and his appointed PA, bolstering them as Israel did Sunday with official recognition plus the release into their coffers of hundreds of millions of dollars in confiscated tax revenues.
Iran denied Sunday giving any financial assistance to Hamas, saying it supported the group only in a "spiritual" way.
According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed-Ali Hosseini, Teheran gave monetary aid to help the Palestinian nation, and not to any specific group.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Rida Bakery, after talks with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara that "We extremely regret their [Fatah and Hamas] inter-fighting and separation."
Bakery was speaking from recent talks Saturday in Damascus with Iranian and Palestinian representatives on the current Palestinian situation.
Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk stressed the need for Hamas and Fatah talks, but called for an investigation into Abbas' recent actions to dissolve the unity government.
"We need an overall revision of all measures taken by Abbas because they are illegal and illegitimate and instigated by the United States and Israel," Marzouk said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhari also defended the group Saturday, in response to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stated Friday that he denounced Hamas' Gaza takeover.
"Hamas was elected by law and agreed to establish a unity government with Fatah, but the one responsible for dissolving it is Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen [Abbas], and not Hamas," stated Abu Zuhari on BBC radio.
Stan Goodenough of Jerusalem Newswire contributed to this report. |
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