Fatah pays Hamas' salaries

Computer error transfers yearly wages to 3,500 members of Hamas' security forces. Buoyant Gazans say move shows President Mahmoud Abbas' government recognizes them
Ali Waked

While Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insists time and again that he and his government will not deal with Hamas until the organization recants from its Gaza coup, it appears that due to a computer error funds were transferred from the Fatah government's accounts to Hamas.

Palestinian media reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government – formed on the heels of Hamas' takeover of Gaza – has paid all members of Hamas' special security forces a sum tantamount to 12 monthly salaries.

Abbas in Egypt

Abbas calls Hamas seizure of Gaza 'destructive' / Associated Press

Palestinian president reiterates his rejection of any talks with terror group. 'Hamas helped all the enemies of the Palestinian people and those who don't want to a Palestinian state. If Hamas wants any dialogue, it must reverse all what it did in the Gaza Strip,' Abbas says after talks with Egyptian President Mubarak in Alexandria

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The Maan news agency quoted the deputy commander of the force confirming that 3,500 people were paid wages owed to them for the period between June 2006 and June 2007.

The deputy said that the recipients were surprised by the move and that as far as Hamas is concerned the move constitutes "recognition of the special security forces by the West Bank government and President Abu Mazen (Abbas)."

Officials from both Fatah and Hamas confirmed the reports to Ynet that while most of Fatah's security personnel and civil servants had not been paid for some time, Hamas members were the ones to receive funds from Fayyad's government.

Meanwhile, Fayyad announced that he would pay the salaries of all members of the Palestinian parliament, including those representing Hamas.

Earlier Wednesday, Abbas met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria and called Hamas' takeover of the Strip "destructive" to the struggle for a Palestinian state.

Abbas reiterated his rejection of any contact with Hamas. ''Hamas helped all the enemies of the Palestinian people and those who don't want to a Palestinian state," he said.