Bill: Ban money transfers from Israel to Gaza

Rightist MKs say funds allocated to Strip, West Bank are used to support anti-Israel terror activity; 'we must end absurd situation,' they say

Roni Sofer |Published: 03.30.11 , 17:05

Twenty rightist Knesset members on Wednesday submitted a bill that would ban the transfer of funds from Israel to Gaza as long as terrorist activities continue in the Hamas-ruled territory.

"The bill is aimed at putting an end to this absurd situation whereby the State of Israel pours money into Gaza and at the same time fights the rockets fired by Hamas, said MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud), one of the lawmakers who initiated the legislation.

"It cannot be that Israel will continue to pay the price of terror along its southern border due to the mistake of the (unilateral) disengagement (from Gaza) and simultaneously continue to strengthen Hamas' economy," she added.

The bill's initiators claim there is no doubt that funds transferred from Israel to Gaza and the West Bank, which are designated for the rehabilitation of the Arab population, are used "solely for the purpose of strengthening the Palestinian Authority's terrorist mechanisms. As a result, Israel is funding murderous terrorist activities that are directed at its own citizens.

"No sane sovereign country would lend its hand to this," the MKs said in the explanation attached to the bill.

According to the bill, the government would not be able to decide on the allocation of funds to Gaza unless it is proven that the regime in the Strip worked to prevent terror attacks against Israel for at least 18 consecutive months.

The bill's chances of passing into law are slim.