West Bank money changers arrested on suspicion of funding terror activity
IDF, Judea and Samaria Police, Civil Administration forces raid 14 Palestinian money changing operations suspected of funding terror; confiscate money, weapons, ammunition, arrest five
IDF forces, along with Judea and Samaria Police and Civil Administration officers raided the homed of five Palestinian money changers in the West Bank Tuesday, seizing over NIS 3 million ($840,000) aimed – according to security forces – to fund terror activity.
The forces confiscated guns and ammunition in four of the five's homes. A similar search was also carried out in the homes of nine other money changers in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, Hebron and Tulkarm.
Sources in the defense establishment said that over the past few years terror groups have been funneling millions of dollars to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in various ways, but mostly using money changers: "Terror organizations overseas wire the money to the (changers') accounts without the Palestinian Authority's supervision and from there it is transferred to terror operatives. The money is used to buy weapons and pay the operatives."
In 2007, added the sources, the scope of funds available to terror group grew, allowing them to expand their operational infrastructure.
Many money changers based in the West Bank maintain constant contact with their counterparts in various Arab states, directly linked with various terror groups' operational headquarters; in which case the money changers wire the funds directly between themselves – and on the terror operatives.
Tuesday's raid is another in a long line of operations carried out by the defense establishment over the past few years, in order to cut off terror groups' funding.
Sources in the defense establishment told Ynet Israel will continue to utilize every legal recourse at its disposal to tackle any element which funds terror activity, in order to secure the safety of Israel's citizens.
