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Source: http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20061221-032431-1128r
Can Hamas Cash Smuggling Be Reined-In?
[UPI] Joshua Brilliant - Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat has reached an understanding with the Egyptian authorities not to allow the Hamas-led Palestinian government to circumvent an international boycott by carrying millions of dollars in suitcases across its border to Gaza, a well-informed source told UPI. Lt. Gen. Pietro Pistolese, the commander of the European (EUBAM) monitoring force at the border, said that at a meeting Wednesday, "The Palestinians committed themselves to avoid this import of money." It "has to be stopped by the Egyptians" before arriving at the crossing, he added. The Rafah Crossing can be open only when EUBAM's representatives are present and video and data links from the Israeli terminal of Kerem Shalom are functioning to allow Israeli monitors to see who crosses, Pistolese said. Because delays in data transmission sometimes enabled people to get through before their names arrived, a fiber optic cable was installed. However, during last week's riot a pole carrying the cable was "broken," Pistolese said. An Israeli official said it was stolen.