European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 3, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 stars and stripes july 2007 palestinian government gets from Israel by Dalia Nammari the associated press West Bank Israel transferred millions of dollars Worth of tax funds to the new palestinian allowing it to pay its work ers in full for the first time in a year while skip Ping the ones who work for the islamic Hamas in Transfer of the funds sunday marked the first Concrete gesture of israeli support for moderate president Mahmoud Abbas since the islamic Mili Tant Hamas took control of by Force last the israeli government said million was handed and palestinian officials confirmed that they received the israelis said a further Transfer would be made in a few the salaries will be paid by Abbas except for government employees hired by like members of the Hamas Security Abbas expelled Hamas from the palestinian government after the Gaza seizure and appointed a new prime Salam under the government employees had Only received partial payments because of an International Aid Boycott imposed on the government headed by the islamic members of Security forces in Gaza were told they would be paid Only if they stayed Home and re fused to work under Hamas since Hamas came to Power in March Israel had Frozen roughly mostly customs duties that it collects on behalf of the palestinians under interim peace Israel said which is sworn to israels destruction and has killed hundreds of israelis in suicide could use the Money to fund after Abbas expelled Hamas from the govern israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said the financial transfers would the tax funds account for roughly half of the palestinian govern ments operating Israel is committed strengthening the new palestinian government and to cooperate fully both in the financial and Security Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin since the government is the largest employer in the palestinian the cutoff crippled the palestinian Israel Hamas members Hamas nabs one of arrested in Jerusalem group holding reporter israels Shin bet Security ser vice announced it had arrested 11 Hamas members in Jerusa Lem Over the past months and disrupted an at tempt by the islamic group to in crease its influence in the disputed those detained included Heads of charities that Chan need Money to local Hamas operatives from sources outside of the the Shin bet said others allegedly organized Hamas activities in Jerusa there was no indication that any of the men were involved in militant Shin bet said Hamas was try ing to tap a Reservoir of Poten tial military recruits with Jerus Alem residency such documents allow easy entry into is which is far More difficult for a palestinian from the West Sami Abu a Hamas spokesman in denied any connection Between Hamas and the Jerusalem charities and said the arrested men Are no More than religious Gaza Gaza strip Hamas on monday arrested the spokesman of a group holding British reporter Alan a move that could give it a bar gaining Chip to secure the britons Hamas has demanded that the army of islam free who was kidnapped on a Gaza City Street March but the whose formerly close relations with Hamas have has demanded that Britain first release a Radi Cal islamic cleric with ties to it has vowed to kill Johnston of the British Broad casting if Hamas tried to free him by the army of islam threat ened to release what it said were damaging documents about Hamas if its Abu Khatab want it also kidnapped 10 members of the islamic group whose violent takeover of the Gaza strip last month has not empowered it enough to secure Johnstons state must explain dropped rape charges Jerusalem israels supreme court delayed a plea bar gain that dropped the threat of rape charges and jail time against israels former presi giving the state until Mon Day afternoon to defend the under the agreement signed last Moshe Ratsav would confess to indecent sexual harassment and obstruction of and receive a suspended but on the court faced with three petitions against the Deal ruled the agreement could not go for Ward until attorney general Meni Mazutz explained Why he backed away from a plan announced in january to file rape charges that could carry a 20year prison the deals critics fear it will not Only allow Ratsav to fade quietly with the gravest of the charges but also discourage assaulted women from stepping from the associated press worlds largest military gets fresh look the Hong Kong Garrison of the Peoples liberation army Parade Mon Day during a Flag raising at the Hong Kong stadium in Hong Chi Nas military is rolling out new uniforms for its million member Peoples liberation prompted by rising budgets and growing involvement in peacekeeping state Media Garrison troops in Hong Kong switched Over to the new uniforms in time for sundays Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the resumption of chinese Rule Over the former British korean businessman gets 18 months for beating South Korea a court sentenced South korean tycoon Kim Seung Youn to 18 months in prison monday Over a sensational beating attack earlier this year against bar workers involved in a scuffle with his a Yale University prosecutors last month sought a two year prison term for the Han wha group chairman in the attack on of duty Karaoke bar workers who engaged in the altercation with his in its written the Seoul District court said that kims body guards forcibly took the victims to a construction site near the where the tycoon kicked and punched the court said that judging by medical records and Pho they were seriously attacked and three of them suffered not a few the court did not describe the extent of the Kim planned to Appeal the said a Hansha lieutenant colonel found dead in Cyprus Cyprus was found land four Cyprus the defense attache dead in a Remote Rural area of the Mediterraneo Days after he disappeared with his diplomatic Thomas Mooney had served As military attache i Cyprus since june the cause of his death is being ambassador Ronald Schlicher cypriot police gave no indication of whether foul play was suspected or How Mooney might have and the state department ruled out an act of who was married with disappeared with his Black Chevrolet Impala on prompting a from the associated press Send us a photo of yourself Reading stars and stripes for a Chance to win Cool shirts and a Nintendo Wii game console grand