Israel may release tax funds to Abbas: sources (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Israel may release tax funds to Abbas: sources
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:05am ET

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is considering handing over millions of dollars
in withheld Palestinian tax funds to President Mahmoud Abbas in a move that
could bolster him in the run-up to elections over his Hamas rivals, sources
said on Wednesday.

Western diplomats and Palestinian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said the proposal under consideration calls for releasing the tax money to Abbas
in stages with assurances that it will bypass the Hamas-led government.

That could allow the moderate president to make payments to Palestinian civil
servants, who have not received their full salaries since Hamas came to power
in March.

-snip-

Full article: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-20T150523Z_01_L09553221_RTRUKOC_0_US-PALESTINIANS.xml

[Kagemusha]

1. I wish Israel wouldn't work so hard to ensure Abbas is SEEN as its puppet

It'd help both Abbas and Israel far more if that was not the distinct impression Israel seems determined to give for, oh, I don't know, ego purposes, maybe some sense that if it's so public and obvious, Abbas is stuck with Israel even once Hamas is put down like a rabid dog? As it is, Israel seems just not willing to tolerate any impression other than that Abbas is the Israel candidate in the elections, and a vote for Abbas is a vote for Israel. How that helps Abbas or Israel is beyond me.

[UndertheOcean]

2. Why is Israel collecting Palestinian taxes to begin with ?

n/t