HAMAS SEIZES EGYPTIAN BOARDER CROSSING TO SMUGGLE $

Arab States Give $35 Million to Terrorists (LGF)
Israel briefly closed the border between Rafah and Egypt today, to stop Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from entering the territories with $35 million in cash from terror-supporting Arab states—many of whom are putatively US "allies:" Israel: Haniyeh can enter Gaza, but without millions in cash.

Israel agreed Thursday evening to allow Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to cross from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, but without the $35 million in cash he had brought from a tour of Muslim states.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz had earlier instructed the Israel Defense Forces to stop Palestinians entering Gaza via the Rafah border crossing, in order to prevent Haniyeh from crossing with the money.

Israel Radio reported that the money would be left in Egypt, and on Friday transferred to the bank account of the Arab League.

Israeli security sources said that the decision to close the border was made to stop the cash transfer, not to prevent Haniyeh's return.

The head of Egypt's intelligence service, Omar Suleiman, had contacted Israeli officials in order to find a solution that would allow Haniyeh to return to the Strip.

Palestinian official Hani Jabour, a coordinator at the Rafah crossing, said Israeli authorities closed the border after Haniyeh told Egyptian authorities he was carrying the money.

THE PALESTINIANS REALLY WANT THAT MONEY. SO MUCH SO, THEY SEIZED THE THE BORDER CROSSING TERMINAL FROM E.U. MONITORS:

Hamas Militants Shuttle PM Back Into Gaza After Israeli Holdup (FoxNews)
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — A wave of gunfire left 18 people wounded after three Palestinian government cars crossed through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt on Thursday to fetch Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Israel, fearing he would dispearse tens of millions dollars he was carrying to the Hamas party, had barred him from entering Gaza.

Hamas militants wielding guns seized control of the crossing terminal as two loud explosions blew a hole into the border fence about a half-mile from the crossing, according to police who witnessed the blast.

The gunmen, apparently angry over delays in allowing Haniyeh to pass, went on a rampage inside the building, destroying computers and furniture inside and plunging the area into darkness, the witnesses said. Medical officials said 18 people were wounded, and the shooting continued to rage more than half an hour.

Travelers dived for cover as gunfire ripped across the border terminal and a top Hamas official furiously tried to persuade the militants to disperse. European monitors said the border would not reopen Thursday.

UPDATE: Haniyeh returns to Gaza, but without his $35m. in cash (JPost)