Israeli cash ends up with Hamas

Oops! It is amazing what can be done with a few accidental taps on the computer keys. In Gaza, members of Hamas security forces, who haven't been paid a salary for months, found to their great joy that a cascade of money had tumbled into their empty bank accounts.

What made this bonanza all the sweeter was that it was mistakenly sent to Hamas fighters by their enemy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. After Hamas fighters kicked out the president's milita from Gaza, Abbas broke off a unity government with the Islamic militants, and turned off the money tap to Hamas members who were on the government payroll in Gaza, everyone from doctors to street fighters.

But then Abbas took delivery of $100 million that Israel owed the Palestinians in tax revenues. It was part of that money that was wired to Hamas' bank accounts.

Abbas was not pleased about the goof (some reports hinted at an undercover Hamas sympathizer diverting the funds,) and neither, by all accounts, were the Israelis.

“This flies in the face of what was agreed upon," an unidentified Israeli government official was quoted as telling Reuters. After all, in Olmert's last meeting with Abbas, the Israeli premier had played the tough book-keeper, demanding that Abbas give itemized details of where the $100 million was going.

The Israelis certainly didn't want it ending up in Hamas' pockets.

---by Tim McGirk/Jerusalem