Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special
Studies (C.S.S)
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/9_04/araf_ap17.htm

Allotments of large amounts of money to Rabbi Moshe Hirsch, the "foreign
minister" of the ultra-orthodox, virulently anti-Zionist Jewish sect known
as Neturei Karta. Two extraordinary payments of $25,000 ( January 13, 2002)
and $30,000 ( February 14, 2002), show that Arafat often gave payoffs to
Hirsch.

Arafat uses Rabbi Moshe Hirsch as a tool for propaganda

Among the hundreds of documents (captured from the Muqata during Operation
Defensive Shield) dealing with money allotted by Arafat, two were found
which related to large sums paid to Rabbi Hirsch for "expenses for
activities." The payments in question, one after an other, were unusually
large ($25,000 on January 13, 2002, and $30,000 on February 14, 2002) and
may indicate that Arafat paid him monthly. It should be noted that the
amounts are significantly larger than those given to other cronies, which
varied between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars.

A meeting between Araf at and Rabbi Moshe Hirsch in Ramallah, December 17,
2001

+ For several years Arafat has had regular meetings with Rabbi Hirsch, who
is known as Neturei Karta's "foreign minister." For Arafat Hirsch serves as
an indoctrination and propaganda tool which he uses to demonstrate the
cooperation between Palestinians and ultra-Orthodox Jews who hold the same
anti-Zionist world view. Thus his readiness to "invest" unusually large sums
of money in him.

+ In 1988, when the establishment of a Palestinian state was declared in
Algeria, Palestinian sources stated that Moshe Hirsch would become a
minister in the government in the future state. In a Palestinian Authority
document dated 1995, Rabbi Hirsch was described as "the Minister of Jewish
Affairs." In a speech given by Arafat in the Ramallah-Al Bireh district on
January 28, 2002, he noted the depth of the historical ties between all the
Semitic religions and gave as an example the fact that Rabbi Moshe Hirsch
was a member of the PLO's National Palestinian Council.

Document 1 - Translation
A payment of $25,000 to Rabbi Moshe Hirsch authorized by Arafat ( January
13, 2002)
[Palestinian seal]
The Palestinian Liberation Organization
Office of the President
Ramallah
January 13, 2002
Receipt
I received the sum of $25,000 (twenty-five thousand dollars) exactly for
expenses for the activities of Rabbi Hirsch. ["Expenses for activities" was
added in Arafat's own hand, following the example of other documents.] Done
in accordance with the instructions of [our] brother the president and
commander general.
Name and signature of the recipient
________________________________
[Written by Arafat:]
To be paid
[Signature of Arafat]
January 13, 2002
A payment of $25,000 to Rabbi Moshe Hirsch authorized by Arafat ( January
13, 2002)
Document 1 - Original
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/9_04/araf_ap17.htm

Document 2 - Translation
A payment of $30,000 to Rabbi Moshe Hirsch authorized by Arafat ( February
14, 2002)
[Palestinian seal]
The Palestinian Liberation Organization
Office of the President
Ramallah
February 14, 2002
Receipt
I received the sum of $30,000 (thirty thousand dollars) exactly for
expenses for the activities of Rabbi Hirsch. [The Rabbi's name was written
in by hand.]
Done in accordance with the instructions of [our] brother the president and
commander general.
Name and signature of the recipient

________________________________
[Written by Arafat:]
To be paid
[Signature of Arafat]
February 14, 2002
A payment of $30,000 to Rabbi Moshe Hirsch authorized by Arafat ( February
14, 2002)

Document 2 -- Original
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/9_04/araf_ap17.htm

Document 3 - Translation
A note from Rabbi Moshe Hirsch addressed to "Abu 'Amar, may he have a long
and happy life, amen!" in which he requests a meeting and reminds Arafat of
"something," apparently a reference to the receipt of money1

1. The letter was among the documents captured in Operation Defensive Shield
The Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestinian National Authority
Office of the President
To brother president Abu 'Amar
(Salutations)
Attached: [A letter for] his honor from Rabbi Hirsch
In re: Request for a meeting with his honor
Contents :
[Rabbi Hirsch] congratulates his honor on [the anniversary of] the
declaration of the founding of the independent state and [on] the month of
Ramadan, and also requests a meeting with his honor.
[Regards]
Gaza , November 18, 2001
The administration for political affairs
[Handwritten note in margin:]
The brothers in public relations
The brothers in the ceremonies (department)
The brothers in security
To be taken care of accordingly
[Three names appear,
two which are illegible and]
Dr. Ramzi
Note : Enclosed within the attached letter was a note written by Rabbi
Hirsch on November 15, 2001, addressed to "Abu 'Amar, may he have a long and
happy life, amen." In it he congratulates Arafat and the Palestinian people
on the first anniversary of the declaration of the Palestinian state and
asks to meet with him at the earliest possible opportunity [which in fact
took place on December 17, 2001, see the picture at the beginning of this
posting]. He also mentions something about a messenger who brought him
"something" from Arafat a short time before. It was apparently a reference
to payments brought to him by messenger.

Document 3 - Original (Attached letter)
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/9_04/araf_ap17.htm

Document 4 - Original (Congratulatory note)
www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/9_04/araf_ap17.htm
Arafat addressed as "Abu 'Amar, may he have a long and happy life" in Rabbi
Hirsch's note.