Last update - 00:00 12/02/2008
IDF arrests W. Bank money changers, confiscates funds destined for terror groups
By The Associated Press
Israel Defense Forces troops raided 14 money-changing offices in the West Bank on Tuesday, confiscating nearly $850,000 and arresting five Palestinians on suspicion funds were transferred from abroad to militant groups, the army said.
Palestinian militants in recent months have successfully increased the amount of funds they receive from abroad, allowing them to expand their operations, the army said.
In the last three months of 2007, a total of $3.4 million was transferred to Palestinian militant groups, most of it to Hamas in the West Bank, according to the statement. "The money serves as gas that fuels the terror activities|, the army said.
A total of $843,000 was confiscated in Tuesday's raids, the army said. Israel has said the money comes at least in part from Iran, although the army did not mention the country in Tuesday's statement.
Soldiers raided money-changing businesses in several West Bank towns, including Nablus, Hebron and Jenin. Five businesses were targeted in Hebron, said the owner of two of the shops, Fadel Abdeen.
Palestinian witnesses said the soldiers detained 10 money changers at four locations in the West Bank and confiscated thousands of dollars in cash and checks.
Asman Abu Saud, a money changer in Nablus, denied transferring money to militants. He said he is not authorized to make money transfers and did not know why he had been targeted.
"They came to me at 2 A.M., forced me to go to my office in the center of
Nablus and took all my money," said Abu Saud. "I don't know how much was there. They took all my passports and my kids' passports and their birth certificates and the computer."
Another money changer from the town of Jenin, Mohammed al-Saadi, said the troops took more than $109,000 from him.
The soldiers also confiscated three pistols, gun parts, documents and CDs, the army said.
Israel accuses Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, of also smuggling money into the territory from Egypt to fund its militant activities like rocket firings against Israel, but has been unable to crack down on the activity since it does not have a presence on the border there.
In September 2006, IDF troops confiscated nearly $1.5 million in raids on money changers, saying the cash came from Iran and was destined for Palestinian militant groups. The money traveled through Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah commands in Lebanon and Syria, it said.
In 2004, troops confiscated $10.4 million in a similar operation, the army said.