Not a penny of Iranian money should be given to Hamas when the Iranians are so poor and economically devastated, Don’t forget the Palestinians are the one of the forces that brought the murderer Khomeini to power in Iran. To refresh your memories look at the pictures below the articles.

Arab Terrorist Leader Goes to Iran After Turkey

Feb 19, 2006

http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_13375.shtml

Reportedly, HAMAS terrorist group leader Khaled Mashal, visiting Turkey recently, will go to Iran later today. A statement from the Iran Foreign Ministry read that HAMAS politburo Chief Khaled Mashal will head to Iran to conduct high level meetings with mullahs in Tehran.

HAMAS's Tehran representative Abu Usame Adbel Muti announced Mashal, who came to Tehran last in December, will meet with mullahs' regime leader Ali Khamenei. Abdel Mehdi stated different political, regional, and international topics will be taken into hand.

The HAMAS representative, who issued a statement to the Iranian press, stressed they condemn all unfair threats against Iran, and added Mashal's visit will be a support message for Iran's mullahs.

Hamas Turns to Iran for Aid

February 20, 2006
The World Today
Eleanor Hall

link to original article

There are signs that the move by Israel and the United States to put pressure on the Hamas-led Palestinian Government may be backfiring, with the new Palestinian leaders now turning to Iran for financial assistance.

Israel confirmed overnight that it would halt its tax payments to the Palestinian Authority, which are worth around $70 million a month. And the United States has demanded that a similar amount of US aid be returned.

In response, Hamas has begun moves to get essential finances from Arabic and Muslim regimes, including Iran, which is, of course, embroiled in a tense stand-off with the West over its nuclear program.

Barney Porter looks at the latest developments in the ongoing impasse created by Hamas' surprise win in the recent Palestinian elections.

BARNEY PORTER: Israel's Cabinet decided to halt the monthly tax revenues permanently, after the weekend swearing-in of the new Palestinian Parliament led by Hamas.

The funds make up roughly one-third of the Palestinian budget, and without them, more than 100,000 government workers won't be paid.

Israel's biggest ally, the United States, has also asked the Palestinian Authority to return around $70 million of aid it's provided, to ensure the money doesn't reach Hamas, which is sworn to the Jewish state's destruction.

However, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, says the moves will only cause further economic hardship for the Palestinian people.

MAHMOUD ABBAS (translated): Unfortunately, the pressures have begun and the support and the aid started to decrease since one month. Therefore, we are currently in a real financial crisis, but we hope to get out of this crisis gradually, and then we will see what will follow.

BARNEY PORTER: Soon after taking control of the Palestinian Parliament, Hamas said it would try to make up any shortfall of funds by seeking money from the Arabic and Muslim world.

And in a significant development overnight, senior Hamas leaders, led by the exiled Khaled Mashaal, arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran, beginning a three-day visit to try to drum up money for the cash-starved Palestinian Authority.

Mr Mashaal says it will be the first of several visits to foreign powers.

KHALED MASHAAL (translated): We are seeking support of Arab and Islamic states, as well as other countries, for our movement, by making such trips.

BARNEY PORTER: Washington and the European Union have said they don't want to push the Palestinian Authority to collapse, or to seek funds from nations such as Iran.

But David Manning, the British Ambassador to the US, says the West maintains Hamas must recognise the right of Israel to exist, renounce violence, and accept the already-struck agreements with Israel, including the Oslo Accords.

And he says his colleagues from the EU are also aware of the wider ramifications of cutting off funds.

DAVID MANNING: We are very conscious of the humanitarian issue here. So there is a real humanitarian issue, and I noticed that the Israeli Cabinet have picked up on that over the weekend. But the position is clear - if we don't… if the new government doesn't meet these criteria, we will be reviewing our support.

BARNEY PORTER: Earlier, Israel's acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, told his Cabinet Israel had no intention of harming the humanitarian interests of the Palestinian population.

However, he again made it clear how he felt about any Hamas-led government.

EHUD OLMERT (translated): It's clear that with Hamas in charge the Palestinian Authority is effectively becoming a terrorist authority.

BARNEY PORTER: The Palestinian legislator, Hanan Ashrawi, says the Israeli and US moves are already being digested by the Palestinian people as a slap in the face.

HANAN ASHRAWI: This is seen clearly by the Palestinians as collective punishment. This is seen as punishing the Palestinians for exercising their democratic option and voting for Hamas.

BARNEY PORTER: Meanwhile, in fresh violence, Israeli forces have shot dead two Palestinians in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank during a stone-throwing confrontation; an air strike in Gaza has killed two Palestinian militants who the army said had been planting a bomb, and the head of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank region of Nablus has just reportedly been killed by the Israeli army.

ELEANOR HALL: Barney Porter with that report.

Eleanor Hall hosts The World Today's lunch hour of current affairs, with background and debate from Australia and the world. Monday to Friday, 12:10pm, ABC Local Radio and Radio National.