Arafat -- Three Billion Dollar Man

Project for the New American Century ^ | November 11, 2003 | Daniel McKivergan

[RWR8189]

Three billion dollars. That’s what Yasser Arafat may be worth after years of running a criminal enterprise on a scale that would make Al Capone blush.

Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes (“Arafat’s Billions”) attempted to unravel the personal finances of Arafat. One secret portfolio Arafat controls has about $1 billion in investments in companies and venture funds across the globe. And where did Arafat get this money given his modest salary? Well, according to 60 Minutes, the “money for the portfolio came from public funds like Palestinian taxes” but “virtually none of it was used for the Palestinian people.” Also, Arafat added to his fortune by diverting money raised from sales taxes on goods purchased by Palestinians into his personal bank accounts. Finally, he got a “hefty kickback” on the revenue made by the General Petroleum Corporation, a notoriously corrupt monopoly that ripped-off ordinary Palestinians by watering down gas and diesel fuel and selling it to them at inflated prices.

Arafat uses this money to maintain control of the Palestinian Authority by financing “a vast patronage system” and so-called “rent-a-rallies” where Palestinians are paid to rally in support of Arafat when needed. He also has spent millions to buy weapons and support terrorists. In fact, according to the BBC (“Palestinian Authority Funds Go To Militants,” 11/7/03), Arafat spends “up to $50,000 a month” to support the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which still engages in terrorist operations against Israelis.

Given this pattern of behavior, it was no surprise that, over the weekend, Arafat revealed that he has no intention of relinquishing his iron-grip on the Palestinian Authority security forces to the newly appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. Although transfer of control is an indispensable element in real reform of the Palestinian Authority, Arafat made sure he alone retained control of the security forces.

In light of all this, what more evidence do proponents of involving Arafat in the peace process need to know before concluding that the process cannot move forward until Arafat is out of the picture?

[Bobibutu]

He who has the gold makes the rules.

He who only knows the account numbers is secure.

[Brilliant]

You'd think that with all that money, he could afford a better shave.

[Parley Baer]

Yep just a shakedown artist. Makes Jesse Jackson look like a piker. Parley

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Or some platic sugery or facial reconstruction...

[river rat]

Why is this murderous, thieving, terrorist bastard still alive?

If the Jews can't see their way clear to kill this bastard, they are living dying in a fog...

Semper Fi

[AlbertWang]

Old Yas-sir ought to take up rasslin'. He would be the perfect cross between Scandar Agbar, the Oil Rich Arab, and The Million Dollar Man. He could be Yas-sir, the 3 Billion Dollar Arab.

[Ethyl]

I think he also stole money that the US gave for Foeign Policy for the Palies, I wonder why 60 mins didn't mention that?

[Captain Peter Blood]

I suspect that Arafat has a great deal more than $3 Billion under his control. I am not surprised by this, I read an account of Arafat and this money he controls some years ago so that is why I believe the figure to be more than $3 Billion.
Wonder what the Prenup was when he married Suha? She must have to take something every time she beds him, to the point she doesn't have to remember the next morning what happened the night before.
You can bet she knows the secrect Bank Account numbers and with her child, by Arafat, will control a very nice Multi-Million dollar Swiss account to keep her in men and champange long after Arafat is gone.
If you notice, she lives in a swanky Left-Bank Apartment in Paris with the kid and only when she has to does she go to Israel to see her long suffering, Martyr husband.
She is living the good life, except when her duties as wife are required.

[mathurine]

Deserve dat Nobel Prize fo' flim-flam, he do

[giznort]

"You'd think that with all that money, he could afford a better shave"...or a bath, or a dentist, or a woman instead of a camel or sheep....

[yonif]

This US admin currently continues to add to his and his terrorist regime's fortune.

[okie01]

"She is living the good life, except when her duties as wife are required."

It is said that Yassir prefers the company of boys...

[monkeyshine]

Go back further, he has collected money from most of the Arab regimes at one time or another, from PLO looting in Lebanon, from protection rackets, and millions upon millions from - yes - robbing banks during the civil war in Lebanon.

[bjcintennessee]

I wonder if the Israelis control his water supply -- surely they could put something in it that would be undetectible, yet deadly. Then blame it on some rare influenza, or carried in by rats.