p_p_man’s question for the day…

[SINthysist]

Who is it again oppressing the Palestinians? Israel? Tony Soprano?





HE'S BILLION-DOLLAR ARAFAT
By URI DAN
NYPOST.COM

August 14, 2002 -- JERUSALEM - Yasser Arafat has secretly amassed at least $1.3 billion in "personal assets," Israel's chief of military intelligence said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi's comments were based on financial documents and other evidence confiscated earlier this year from the PLO chairman's headquarters in Ramallah and other Palestinian Authority offices in the West Bank.

Zeevi gave few details about Arafat's fortune in his regular monthly briefing before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense committees.

But a high-ranking Israeli official said the confirmed $1.3 billion is believed to be only a fraction of Arafat's true holdings.

A 1994 British intelligence report allegedly put the figure at more than $10 billion. Recently, a knowledgeable Israeli source put the figure at $11 billion.

According to documents and other evidence:

* Arafat's wealth is held in bank accounts, real estate and other assets that can easily be made liquid.

* The bank accounts are spread about in Europe, Arab countries, the Far East - and even the United States - under different companies controlled by Arafat.

* Arafat has made some of his top deputies, including Abu Ala, Abu Mazen and Nabil Shaath, very rich.

"Arafat took care of his closest aides. Some of them have tens of millions of dollars," one source said.

Arafat's wife Suha, who has been living in Paris during the Palestinian uprising, is believed to control some of his hidden assets.

The financial guru who controls Arafat's personal fortune is Mohammed Rashid, an Arafat loyalist of Kurdish origin.

The intricate network of numbered bank accounts and hidden assets is believed to be so complex that only Arafat, Rashid and one or two other Palestinians know their extent.

The main source of Arafat's wealth is believed to be the approximately $6 billion contributed by the United States, Japan and European countries as financial aid to the authority from 1993 to 2000, sources said.

Despite a cutback in aid during the 23-month-old Palestinian uprising, the European Union continues to contribute about $10 million a month to finance what Arafat calls the needed operations of the authority.

"The Palestinian people's money is Arafat's personal money," a high-ranking Israeli official said. "That's the way he treats it. Everything belongs to him."

Reports of Arafat's wealth - including claims that the Palestine Liberation Organization leadership owns property in London's Mayfair district, a large stock holding in Mercedes Benz and other assets - have circulated in the last few years.

Israel has claimed the documents captured from Arafat's offices in the West Bank show that Western aid is being funneled to the families of bombers.

According to intelligence reports, Arafat has used his position as Palestinian president as well as his chairmanship of the PLO to build his bankroll.

Well before he returned to the Gaza Strip and West Bank as president in 1994, Arafat was receiving huge contributions from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the oil sheikdoms of the Persian Gulf to finance the PLO.

In addition to aid from governments, Arafat's inner circle is believed to have received millions of dollars in business graft based on imports of valued goods.

"The kickbacks work this way," a top Israeli official said:

"A group of Palestinians gets a monopoly on gasoline or cigarettes or cement or something. The Palestinian consumer then pays an inflated price for his gas, because the price includes a special fee that goes in the hands of Arafat's people."

Zeevi told the parliamentary committees that criticism of Arafat is mounting, both among the Palestinian public and within Fatah, his own political organization.

 

[Myrrdin]

Looks like Arafat has converted over to capitalism. In America I guess he would be called an entrepeneur.

 

[SINthysist]

Capo. I believe that's what they call middle-management!

 

[bluespoke]

Capo. I believe that's what they call middle-management!

Nah , he's just a tyical politician!

 

[SINthysist]

He's running Palestine like a corporation!

 

[SINthysist]

Murder, Inc.

 

[SINthysist]

I'll bet this is all over some vig that the Israeli's owe him from way back when and they don't want to pony up the interest!

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

I'm glad that the US Government takes money out of my paycheck every week to make sure that Yassar lives comfortably. That's disgusting. He probably lets a little of it out of his hands to ensure that the hate-mongering continues for many years unabated. It's really irritating.

 

[p_p_man]

I'm glad that the US Government takes money out of my paycheck every week to make sure that Yassar lives comfortably. That's disgusting. He probably lets a little of it out of his hands to ensure that the hate-mongering continues for many years unabated. It's really irritating.

I should be more concerned about your money going to Israel. Sharon and his cronies aren't exactly poor either.

And the country does get $3.5 billion a year from America.

As most of the sources about Arafat's cash come from Israel I can't help thinking "Well they would say that wouldn't they?"

ppman

 

[teddybear4play]

I should be more concerned about your money going to Israel. Sharon and his cronies aren't exactly poor either.

And the country does get $3.5 billion a year from America.

That's not the point. Israel's not waging a war on the grounds that they're "oppressed." Palestine is. Shit, a few billion dollars would do wonders for the Palestinians if it ever got out of Arafat's grubby little fingers.

As most of the sources about Arafat's cash come from Israel I can't help thinking "Well they would say that wouldn't they?"

And the $10B figure from British Intelligence — how do you rationalize that?

TB4p

 

[p_p_man]

That's not the point. Israel's not waging a war on the grounds that they're "oppressed." Palestine is. Shit, a few billion dollars would do wonders for the Palestinians if it ever got out of Arafat's grubby little fingers.

And the $10B figure from British Intelligence — how do you rationalize that?

TB4p

"After a study by British Intelligence found that the PLO has assets of $8-10 billion, and an annual income of $1-2 billion"

June 1 1997

Source: http://www.likud.nl/extr10.html

And incidentally Palestine is fighting a war against an invader, not because they're oppressed. Although Israeli is no different to other invading forces in that they do oppress those they're invading.

ppman

 

[miles]

And incidentally Palestine is fighting a war against an invader, not because they're oppressed. Although Israeli is no different to other invading forces in that they do oppress those they're invading.

ppman

Well, pp, after your outburst several days ago, I finally understand why nearly everything you post flies in the face of reality, lacks common sense, and is contrary to normal thinking.

 

[SINthysist]

I saw another great article this morning pointing out all the leaders, like Benezir Bhuto (sp?) of Pakistan, several African leaders, Putin, Gorby, and other recipients of American Aid had lavish homes and lifestyles which they did not enjoy before coming to power.

WE SHOULD BE MORE POPULAR DAMNIT!

This just ain't workin' out...

 

[p_p_man]

Well, pp, after your outburst several days ago, I finally understand why nearly everything you post flies in the face of reality, lacks common sense, and is contrary to normal thinking.

So you're saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine?

Tell that to the rest of the world and be prepared to be laughed off the planet...

ppman

 

[SINthysist]

You can properly invade something as pitiful as what Palestine has become.

Interestingly enough, I did read an article today talking about Palistinians turning against the idea of homicide bombers. Parents are beginning to turn thier kids and the recruiters in.

SEEMS THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR HOMES!

 

[miles]

So you're saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine?

Tell that to the rest of the world and be prepared to be laughed off the planet...

ppman

No, I'm saying you've killed more brain cells than I ever thought was possible.

 

[p_p_man]

No, I'm saying you've killed more brain cells than I ever thought was possible.

That's a worse answer than saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine...

I've noticed recently that your answers are becoming more and more childish. Maybe you should stop posting for a while and go for a bit of R&R...

ppman

 

[Unclebill]

Originally posted by p_p_man
That's a worse answer than saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine...

I've noticed recently that your answers are becoming more and more childish. Maybe you should stop posting for a while and go for a bit of R&R...

ppman

Would you be so kind as to explain how one can invade a state that doesn't exist? The Palestinians themselves rejected the establishment of a state to reside as refugees in other Arab states until the Arab nations managed to drive Israel into the sea.

It would seem that perhaps the Arabs are on a rather leisurely timetable as to that little venture, however, content to keep their Arab bretheren in abject poverty and despair and perpetually fomented hatred rather than offer them a homeland of their own. You do recall the treatment the Palestinians received at the hands of the Jordanians (read King Hussein) about 30 years ago when they demanded statehood from their fellow Arab bretheren, don't you? 200,000 or so dead!

Reality isn't a place you feel comfortable is it? You seem to disdain visiting it so vociferously.

 

[Ishmael]

So you're saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine?

Tell that to the rest of the world and be prepared to be laughed off the planet...

ppman

1. You can't invade what doesn't exist.

2. If a state does exist and that state has declared war on you and has exported that war to your state then you are more than justified in invading. (see the history of WWII, or almost anyother war.)

3. You adroitly dodged the issue of the use of the peoples money for personal gain.

Ishmael

 

[miles]

That's a worse answer than saying that Israel isn't invading Palestine...

I've noticed recently that your answers are becoming more and more childish. Maybe you should stop posting for a while and go for a bit of R&R...

ppman

Maybe you should find a clinic and dry up, asshole.

 

[p_p_man]

1. You can't invade what doesn't exist.

2. If a state does exist and that state has declared war on you and has exported that war to your state then you are more than justified in invading. (see the history of WWII, or almost anyother war.)

3. You adroitly dodged the issue of the use of the peoples money for personal gain.

Ishmael

I didn't say Palestine was a state. I just said Israel is invading it. State or not Israel has no right legally or morally to keep building new settlements outsideof its own designated borders and then scream like a frightened woman when the Palestinians retalliate.

I didn't so much drop the issue of personal gain but agree with the wrongness of it. For either side.

ppman

 

[Unclebill]

Originally posted by p_p_man


I didn't say Palestine was a state. I just said Israel is invading it. State or not Israel has no right legally or morally to keep building new settlements outsideof its own designated borders and then scream like a frightened woman when the Palestinians retalliate.

I didn't so much drop the issue of personal gain but agree with the wrongness of it. For either side.

ppman

There's a fairly long historical record of the victor in a war annexing the territory of the vanquished foe. The "occupied territories" are just such territory captured by Israel when attacked by the Arabs a few decades back. Some of this land was actually returned to the aggressors at the end of hostilities (well, at least that particular hostility) which history seems to illustrate was a mistake on the part of Israel and apparently presumed by the Arabs as a sign of weakness despite their sound trouncing at the hands of Israel in their war effort to drive the Jews into the sea.

And if you truly believe this drivel you drool about Israel not having a right to defend her people against the thugs pledged to destroy them, then you are one of the mindless fools who equate murder and self-defense as moral equivalents. Is you surname perchance Chamberlain? It never ceases to amaze me the levels to which people intentionally stultify their intellect for this level can't be accidental.

Reality really does appear to you as a particularly hostile environment doesn't it? That would explain why you are so scrupulous in avoiding contact with it on any persistent basis.

 

[p_p_man]

And if you truly believe this drivel you drool about Israel not having a right to defend her people against the thugs pledged to destroy them, then you are one of the mindless fools who equate murder and self-defense as moral equivalents. Is you surname perchance Chamberlain? It never ceases to amaze me the levels to which people intentionally stultify their intellect for this level can't be accidental.

Reality really does appear to you as a particularly hostile environment doesn't it? That would explain why you are so scrupulous in avoiding contact with it on any persistent basis.

I don't want to go through all the details again of how Israel occupied Palestinian cities before the end of Partition, how she continuously builds settlements on Palestinian territory, how she has, long before the PLO was formed, killed, maimed and terrorised Palestinians, how she used the Holocaust to gain sympathy from the rest of the world. how she kills stone throwing children, how she has proclaimed since the early twentieth century that it was her aim to drive the Palestinians out, how she is harbouring torturing thugs from her Concentration Camps when they were closed down, how Sharon is wanted for war crimes for his involvement in the massacre of Beirut, how she is now using the Nazi tactics of old of destroying a 'terrorist's' family and home, how she continues a campaign of murderous bloodshed...

Whilst all the time wringing her hands and wailing "It's not our fault. It's them. They kill our people with suicide bombers. It's not fair!!"

But I don't want to go through it all again. I just suggest that you stop memorising long swaithes of text issued by the Libertarians and start thinking for yourself for once...

And if you're going to bring up that old chestnut of appeasement, keep your eye on George over Iraq. He's already backtracking. Soon he'll be saying he didn't really mean it...

ppman

 

[miles]

I don't want to go through all the details again of how Israel occupied Palestinian cities before the end of Partition, how she continuously builds settlements on Palestinian territory, how she has, long before the PLO was formed, killed, maimed and terrorised Palestinians, how she used the Holocaust to gain sympathy from the rest of the world. how she kills stone throwing children, how she has proclaimed since the early twentieth century that it was her aim to drive the Palestinians out, how she is harbouring torturing thugs from her Concentration Camps when they were closed down, how Sharon is wanted for war crimes for his involvement in the massacre of Beirut, how she is now using the Nazi tactics of old of destroying a 'terrorist's' family and home, how she continuous a campaign of murderous bloodshed...

Whilst all the time wringing her hands and wailing "It's not our fault. It's them. They kill our people with suicide bombers. It's not fair!!"

But I don't want to go through it all again. I just suggest that you stop memorising long swaithes of text issued by the Libertarians and start thinking for yourself for once...

And if you're going to bring up that old chestnut of appeasement, keep your eye on George over Iraq. He's already backtracking. Soon he'll be saying he didn't really mean it...

ppman

Three references to Nazi Germany in one post? Oh, I know, you only mentioned it because the "jews" did first. Denial is a way of life for you.

 

[Sandia]

SIN, this strikes me as unbelievable.


August 14, 2002 -- JERUSALEM - Yasser Arafat has secretly amassed at least $1.3 billion in "personal assets," Israel's chief of military intelligence said yesterday...

The Israelis hate Arafat... And 1.3 billion is a lot of money. But:

A 1994 British intelligence report allegedly put the figure at more than $10 billion. Recently, a knowledgeable Israeli source put the figure at $11 billion...

Allegedly? A "knowledgeable Israeli source?"

According to documents and other evidence...

What documents and other evidence?

The main source of Arafat's wealth is believed to be the approximately $6 billion contributed by the United States, Japan and European countries as financial aid to the authority from 1993 to 2000, sources said.

So, Arafat had 10 or 11 billion dollars (allegedly) in 1994, and the "main source" of his wealth is 6 billion contributed to the authority between 1993 and 2000? Do you see a problem here?

Despite a cutback in aid during the 23-month-old Palestinian uprising, the European Union continues to contribute about $10 million a month to finance what Arafat calls the needed operations of the authority.

Ten million a month equals 120 million a year... At that rate it would take Arafat nearly one hundred years to accumulate 10 or 11 billion dollars... even if he kept every dollar for himself. Right?

Israel has claimed the documents captured from Arafat's offices in the West Bank show that Western aid is being funneled to the families of bombers.

Ten or eleven billion dollars would make Arafat one of the richest men in the world. Why would a guy who's that rich spend his time in the occupied territories? For that kind of money, that guy could practically buy the territories from the Israelis...