Yasser Arafat diverted money from international aid and tax revenue to buy weapons according to the former financial aide to the late terrorist.
Under Arafat's direction, Shubaki, 64, told his interrogators, high-ranking PA security officials were involved in manufacturing and purchasing weapons in addition to funding terror groups in their war against Israel.
Shubaki estimated that $7-10 million were used every two years to purchase arms for the Gaza Strip, and another $2 million were spent on weapons for the West Bank. The money, he said, came from international aid to the PA, tax money Israel routinely transferred to the PA and taxes collected in the Gaza Strip. Shubaki confessed to involvement in the purchasing of weapons for the head of the Tanzim terror group in Gaza, used in attacks against military installations and Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Yeah, much more important to fund terrorism than to actually help your own people out.
One of the largest weapon deals struck between Iran and the Palestinians was the attempt to smuggle over 50 tons of armaments aboard the Karine A ship in 2002. Shubaki revealed that the transaction was coordinated between the PA, Hizbullah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
In addition to the light weaponry used by the Palestinians at the time, the Karine A also carried Sagger guided anti-tank missiles used by Hizbullah against Israeli armor in Lebanon, LAW anti-tank missiles, long-range mortars, and mines. Also on board the vessel were short and long-range Katyusha, including 122 mm rockets with a range of some 20 kilometers. The ship was eventually intercepted by Naval commandos en-route to Gaza 500 km off of Israel's coast.
Gee, that's a big surprise, isn't it? Iran involved in international terrorism.
Arafat was the biggest con-man ever. This is where I line right up with the Right. Europe got completely snowed by this jerk, and what we’re seeing now – Hamas taking politcal power – is Exhibit A.
There was probably a time when Arafat could have given the Palestinians a decent solution and a decent future. Instead, he may well have doomed them in the long run. If Iran nukes Israel, guess who else dies, too.