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Aryeh Eldad is a Member of Knesset from the National Union party.
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By Aryeh Eldad
November 4, 2007
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Israeli law books contain a prohibition against money laundering. The law was meant to be a tool in the war against crime, but all over the world such laws have become effective tools in preventing the funding of terrorist organizations. In September, Israel's security cabinet suddenly declared that the Gaza Strip is an enemy entity. Following this declaration, Israeli banks announced that they are cutting their ties with banks in Gaza.
The Bank of Israel immediately asked Bank Hapoalim to postpone this move for a few months. It took the Israeli government years and thousands of rockets and artillery shells to reach the conclusion that the Hamas kingdom it established in Gaza is hostile to Israel. So the Bank of Israel was obviously surprised at the banks' swiftness -- not to say their brazenness -- in immediately implementing a government decision. After all, where's the fire? Another two or three months of business dealings with those paying the salaries of the cells firing Kassam rockets doesn't really matter, according to the leaders of our national bank.
But apparently the banks in Israel fear American law more than they fear the Governor of the Bank of Israel. They don't want to end up in court for assisting terror. So the government of Israel sought to find an immediate solution to a possible shortage of shekels in Gaza. Analysts warned that a humanitarian crisis is expected in Gaza. And how will Ismail Hamiyeh pay the salaries of the artillery cells bombarding Sderot? So Finance Minister Roni Bar-On and Prime Minister Olmert found time to come up with a solution. Dealing with the teachers? strike was pushed aside for more urgent matters of state, for a solution had to be found for the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The finance minister and the prime minister came up with a creative one: because they have not yet forbade the funding of terror in Judea and Samaria -- and Abu Mazen and Salem Fayad are still allowed to pay the salaries of those cells that recently planned to murder Olmert in Jericho and commit mass terror attacks in other parts of the country -- the government of Israel allowed trucks full of cash to travel from Judea and Samaria into Gaza.
Thus, the Israeli government continues funding terror in Gaza: The Israeli banks send their cash to banks in Ramallah. The banks in Ramallah load 250 million shekels onto trucks. And someone in the Israel government even ordered that this caravan be protected, and not delayed. The Hamas terrorists stood on line in the post offices in Gaza and received their cash, such that no bank transfers would be listed and it would be impossible to follow the circuitous route taken and charge those responsible, either here or in the United States.
Thousands of rockets and bombs have fallen on Sderot since the disengagement from Gaza, the towns of Israel's south have been turned into a death trap, and their residents live in hell. The proper response for Israel would be a large military ground operation in Gaza, taking control of the Philadelphia Corridor to stop the flow of arms flooding Gaza from Egypt, and to create a buffer zone in the north of Gaza.
But the Israeli government has not actualized its right of self-defense. First, because Olmert is unable to admit that the disengagement was a terrible mistake that led to disaster; and also because he is tying the hands of the army so as not to wreck the upcoming disaster of Annapolis. But because he has to do something, take a small step, a form of speaking a soft protest rather than using a punishment stick, the Israeli government decided to reduce the amount of electricity flowing to Gaza. This decision was accompanied by much agonizing and by many excuses: They don't intend to darken Gaza, just dim the light, and not all over Gaza, just surrounding a missile base in Beit Hanoun, and not for a whole day, only for a couple of hours in the afternoon when the Kassam rocket cells are resting.
All this to avoid a humanitarian disaster, because if it got too dark, the terrorists operating from the yards of houses might miss Sderot and end up hitting a nearby mosque, Heaven forbid. Nonetheless, and despite all the restrictions, limitations, and apologies, the Arab members of Knesset and their partners on the Israeli Left broke out in their song of "Israel is Causing a Humanitarian Disaster." Government Legal Advisor Manny Mazuz heard these words and hurried to dance to their tune, and forbade the defense establishment from darkening Gaza.
No doubt the situation in Gaza is rough and there aren't many reasons to smile in that terror entity. Wild laughter is even rarer. And therefore Israeli soldiers posted around Gaza did not understand the nature of the strange sounds emanating from the other side of the fence. Technologically sophisticated equipment was pointed towards the source of the noise: Maybe these were miners using advanced equipment to dig their tunnels? Maybe factories were producing long-range Kassam rockets?
The recordings were deciphered, the results of the eavesdropping were summarized, and a report was given to the higher-ups. The reporting officer stood before his commanders and reported, "They're laughing themselves to death."
Oy. It looks like we've caused another humanitarian disaster.
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