Does PA anti-terror plan aim to strangle Hamas financially?
The Palestinian government says it recently approved the National Strategy for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in a bid to protect the economy, but many believe the step targets Hamas directly.
Amid the ongoing rift and faltering round of negotiations between rival Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas, the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA) is taking another step to crack down on Hamas activities in the West Bank.
In a not-unusual exchange of rhetoric, Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of the Fatah Central Committee, declared Nov. 27 that no reconciliation will take place unless Hamas ends its control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri replied the same day, pointing out that Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections in 2006 and Fatah lost. He said Fatah must stop being so arrogant toward Hamas.
