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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 17:37 03/12/2007 PA: Dozens of Hamas charities dismantled in West Bank By The Associated Press Tags: Hamas, Fatah, charities, PA The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority announced Monday that it has dismantled dozens of charities run by the rival Hamas group and frozen their accounts, pressing forward with a crackdown on the Islamic militant group. The move deepened the bitter rivalry between the Palestinian rivals since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June. President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah has systematically targeted Hamas power bases in his West Bank stronghold since the Gaza takeover. Government spokesman Riad Malki described the 92 charity committees as a financial empire for Hamas. He said the committees were quietly shuttered two weeks ago. There was no explanation for the delay in announcing the move. Advertisement The committees are formed by prominent local and religious leaders under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The committees collect money and distribute it to the poor, usually during religious holidays. Muslims will celebrate their holy day of Eid al-Adha in late December. Malki said the committees were infiltrated by Hamas activists in previous years of Fatah rule. "They transformed the charity committees into financial empires to serve their political ends and activities," Malki said. However, Malki declined to say how much cash it froze. The cash will now be passed on to 11 new committees formed by the government. Following the Gaza takeover, Abbas expelled Hamas from the Palestinian government and installed a new pro-Western Cabinet in the West Bank. Abbas agreed last week to re-launch peace talks with Israel, while the violently anti-Israel Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza. Abbas' government has arrested dozens of Hamas activists throughout the West Bank and three months ago closed more than 100 charity groups run by Hamas activists. Abbas is under pressure to crush challenges by Hamas in the West Bank to secure his party's rule, and to show Israel and the West that he is able to implement any peace deal agreed to with Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us Muslim about face A key U.K. Muslim group ends its boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day. Calling all Aleppo Jews Yad Ben-Zvi is calling for the return of centuries-old Aleppo Codex fragments.   1.   charity money 18:30  |  vik 03/12/07   2.   "Charity" money 19:02  |  Human Rights Group 03/12/07   3.   Fatah is sustaining the occupation and act as the local sheriff ! 19:04  |  John 03/12/07   4.   Charity Money 19:25  |  Tsatuma 03/12/07   5.   Heartwarming. 19:31  |  Colin Wright 03/12/07   6.   Its the Palestinian Judenrat! 20:01  |  Paulo 03/12/07   7.   Christmas present.... 20:11  |  Palestinian Brit 03/12/07   8.   Fatah, Israel`s partner in crime. 20:37  |  JH 03/12/07   9.   I am a member of one of these committees, and the man is a liar 20:54  |  KMMHA 03/12/07   10.   thats the spirit Palestinian Brit 21:03  |  Jay 03/12/07   11.   its only sad that there are people who think as you do , JH 21:08  |  Jay 03/12/07   12.   wow thats a first Tsatuma 21:15  |  JJ 03/12/07   13.   Stupid 22:23  |  Jan Elshout 03/12/07   14.   Paolo #6, again clueless 22:30  |  Polybios 03/12/07   15.   Fatah will be destroyed like the Baath Party in Iraq was! 22:39  |  anit-Fatah 03/12/07   16.   Those shameful Fatah collabotors 23:11  |  Dutch 03/12/07   17.   About time 00:16  |  Philippe 04/12/07

Today Online U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons work in 2003 Responses: 101 In nod to Abbas, Israel frees another 429 Palestinian prisoners Responses: 186 Akiva Eldar: Avigdor Lieberman's settler friends can relax Responses: 85 Report: Israel's disabled worst off in Western world Responses: 49 Officials: Extraordinary measures used on 17% of Gazan inmates Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain Clinton was for it before he was against it (or vice versa) / WTR The new Jews who actually love their Shabbat services Poll: So, was the Annapolis meeting a success? "Anyone who shows contempt for Bush - not serious person," says Olmert More Headlines 23:37 U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons development in 2003 00:55 ANALYSIS: Iran nuke study pulls military option off the table 22:25 Red Cross: Hamas isn't ruling out handing over letter from Shalit 22:02 U.K. Muslim group ends boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day 22:01 Most Arab MKs boycott special Knesset session commemorating partition plan 21:32 In Syria, chief PA negotiator promises to coordinate on peace talks 15:54 Rehavam Ze'evi assassin jailed for two life terms plus 100 years 21:32 PM: High Arab turnout at Annapolis summit was a 'big achievement' 19:11 Ben-Zvi Institute calls for return of Aleppo Codex fragments Previous Editions Select Day 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 23 nov 22 nov 21 nov 20 nov

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