Iran offered Wednesday to fund a Hamas-led Palestinian
government if the West cuts off aid. But Israel vowed to block any
money from Tehran and warned the Palestinians against aligning with
what it called "international pariahs."
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security
Council, issued the pledge after a meeting with Khaled Mashaal, the
Hamas political leader. Mashaal and his delegation were in Iran on
their latest stop of a tour of Arab and Islamic nations to build
support.
Iran, one of Hamas' strongest backers, shares a nearly identical
regional political strategy with the Islamic militant group that
won last month's Palestinian parliament elections. Both have called
for the destruction of Israel and neither recognizes the Jewish
state.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday asked Hamas to form
a government. The group has steadfastly refused Western demands to
renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist and abide by past
agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The United States and European Union, which consider Hamas a
terrorist organization, have said they will halt hundreds of
millions of dollars in aid grants to the Palestinian Authority
after a Hamas government takes office unless the group changes its
attitude toward Israel and violence.
Hamas suicide bombers have killed hundreds of Israelis. But the
group has respected an informal cease-fire since early last
year.
"The United States proved that it would not support democracy
after it cut its aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas won
the elections. We will certainly help the Palestinians," Larijani
said, according to an Iran radio report.
Israel and the United States have long accused Iran of giving
financial and material support to Hamas. But Iran has always
replied it gives only moral backing.
"The incoming Palestinian leadership has to decide if it wants
to be part of the legitimate international community or if it
wants, through its own actions, to align itself with international
pariahs," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
Asked whether Israel would try to block the Iranian funding,
Regev replied it would be going to finance a "terrorist"
leadership.
"We would be entitled to use all legal means to prevent that
money from reaching its destination," he said.
State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Wednesday he
could not verify the reports that Iran had offered to fund
Hamas.
"Iran's support of terror and Iran's support of violence as an
acceptable way to achieve political aspirations is contrary to the
policy and the statements of President Abbas," he said, adding
"it's frankly contrary to the actions of the civilized world."
Israel condemns Iran for its support of militant groups and
accuses Tehran of seeking to produce nuclear weapons — a charge
Iran denies.
Last year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel
should be "wiped off" the map and called the Nazi Holocaust of 6
million Jews a myth.
Hamas leaders have acknowledged receiving small amounts of
Iranian aid, but the group has said it did not want to rely solely
on Iranian funds.
In Kuwait, the Salafi Movement — a Sunni extremist group —
called on Muslims and Arabs to offer financial support to Hamas,
the "legitimate and elected representative" of the Palestinian
people. The movement said Hamas was the target of "political
blackmail" to force it to recognize Israel.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Monday for
Muslim nations to aid a Hamas-led government.
Ahmadinejad also has indicated Hamas should not fear the West's
threat to cut off funds. "Since the divine treasures are infinite,
you should not be concerned about economic issues," the official
news agency quoted him as saying.
(Chinadaily.com via agencies February 23, 2006)
