ARAFAT - Terrorism & financing-terrorism

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				Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)

Additional Captured Documents Reveal Again the System of Money Transfers to Terrorist Squads, Personally Authorized by Yasser Arafat, with the Deep Involvement of Marwan Barghouti

Abstract

Additional captured documents from IDF Operation "Defensive Shield", some of which were found in Marwan Barghouti’s office in Ramallah, concern the system of money transfers to various Fatah terrorist squads (Tanzim, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades). In some cases, the payments were transferred to terrorists from other organizations or to those belonging to the Palestinian security apparatuses that are integrated into the framework of Fatah squads.

According to these documents, the requests for financial aid – which is a vital component in preserving and encouraging the terrorist activity – come from the lowest echelons, from Fatah branches and Districts. In most cases they are addressed to Marwan Barghouti. However, occasionally branch and District heads address Arafat directly or operate via senior security apparatuses’ officials (Tawfik Tirawi). In any case, Marwan Barghouti is again noted as a central axis on which the whole system is established: he mediates between the field activists in the West Bank and Arafat, and recommends to Arafat how to allocate funds. Arafat is personally involved in allocating money to terrorist squads down to the lowest echelon, and down to handling personal problems of individuals.

Some additional outstanding points in this correspondence:

a.	Yasser Arafat is asked to approve financial aid to the families of Fatah activists killed during the intifada, among them senior activists involved in many terrorist attacks, including infiltration of suicide bombers into Israel and the murdering of Israelis.
b.	Marwan Barghouti is asked to allocate money for activists “eligible for aid” because they are wanted by Israel, including wanted terrorists who carried out “quality operations”.
c.	Marwan Barghouti extends his patronage over a terrorist squad in Ramallah (whose leader was arrested during Operation "Defensive Shield"), its activists were involved in shooting and explosive charge attacks and in directing suicide bombings inside Israel.
d.	Marwan Barghouti works with Arafat in allocating financial aid for the son of a Fatah activist who participated in the Ramallah lynch on 12 October 2000. Barghouti also authorizes the provision of financial aid to a Ramallah policeman wanted by Israel for involvement in the lynch.

List of the Captured Documents Enclosed (Arabic Originals and English Translations)

Document 1	A memorandum by Tawfik Tirawi, Head of the General Intelligence in the West Bank, to Yasser Arafat. Tirawi requests authorization for financial aid to the families of three Fatah activists killed in Bethlehem, including two senior activists: Atef Ahmed Salem Abayat and his assistant Jamal Abdallah Abdallah Nawara.
Document 2	A memorandum from Marwan Barghouti to Yasser Arafat. Barghouti asks Arafat to approve the transfer of $3000 to each of the 20 terrorists on the list [some of whom are known to be Fatah/Tanzim activists], because “they are wanted by the occupation [Israeli] authorities and deserve aid.”
Document 3	A letter from Khaled Abd Al-Aziz Muhammad Sif, a member of the Fatah Nablus branch committee, to Marwan Barghouti. He asks for aid for a squad of 7 wanted terrorists, which carries out “quality operations” and faces severe “economic problems.”
Document 4	A certificate signed by Marwan Barghouti, to whom it may concern, according to which the terrorists whose names are mentioned in it are Tanzim members and should be assisted in carrying out their duties. This is a squad of 9 terrorists involved in shooting and explosive charge attacks, and direction of suicide bombings in Israel. [The head of the squad was arrested during Operation "Defensive Shield". In his investigation he confessed that he had decided to work under Barghouti’s patronage in order to promote his own status and that of his activists.]
Document 5	A memorandum by Marwan Barghouti to Yasser Arafat. Barghouti provides a list of 25 names and asks to pay $2000 each because these people urgently need aid. Some of those mentioned in the list are known to be Fatah/Tanzim activists.
Document 6	A memorandum from the secretary of the Tubas district branch to Yasser Arafat. The secretary asks Arafat’s approval for the payment of $1000 to Tanzim members, because they are “special fighters.”
Document 7	A memorandum from Al-Sheikh Ali Farj of the Fatah/Tanzim leadership in Nablus to Marwan Barghouti. Al-Sheikh requests financing for 14 Tanzim activists in Nablus, who are wanted terrorists “eligible for aid”.
Document 7/1	A memorandum from the Fatah Tubas branch to Marwan Barghouti regarding urgent financial aid to 7 terrorists, “persecuted” by Israel. [The terrorists are familiar as involved in firing and bombing attacks in the Tamun sector north-east of Nablus.]
Document 7/2	A memorandum from the Fatah Nablus branch committee to Marwan Barghouti regarding aid to the families of 9 terrorists killed. Barghouti asks Yasser Arafat to approve aid of $1000 for the families of the terrorists killed.
Document 8	A memorandum from Marwan Barghouti to Yasser Arafat: Barghouti asks Arafat to provide aid of $6000 for the lawyer of one of the participants in the lynch against the IDF soldiers in Ramallah [12 October 2000].
Document 8/1	A memorandum from a Ramallah policeman, wanted by Israel for his involvement in the lynch against the IDF soldiers, to Marwan Barghouti. The policeman asks for financial aid so that he can transfer his family from Hebron to Ramallah, because he cannot leave Ramallah as the Israelis are looking for him. Barghouti gives the instructions to regard this request as a priority one.