Talk:Orient House

Text from Passia web site (for incorporation into article):
 * ORIENT HOUSE Main political presence of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the PLO's unofficial representation in the city. Property of the Husseini family, built in 1897. Subject to an Israeli law of Dec. 1994 banning any political PLO activity in the city not approved by the Israeli govt. Though Israel mainly pursues a policy of non-interference with Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, it regularly threatens Orient House with full or partial closure. On 10 Aug. 2001, Israeli troops stormed and occupied the building, confiscated computers, data, files and other materials. Since then Orient House has been closed.



Expand: Orient House
Text from middleest.org (for incorporation into this article

MID-EAST REALITIES- They never ever let Yasser Arafat come to Jerusalem. And Arafat missed his moment on the day of Feisal Husseini's burial earlier this summer when he could have, and should have, called their bluff. Now the Israelis, commanded by General Sharon, have done what they have been planning to do for some time, using the excuse of yesterday's terror bombing on Jaffa Road -- they have closed Orient House, the very symbol of things Palestinian in East Jerusalem, as well as many other organizations associated with the PA. Just as they have done for years claiming to be responding to attacks on settlers by setting up still more settlements, the Sharon/Peres/BenElizer government (and remember the Foreign Minister and Defense Minister are major figures in the Labor Party) has imposed even more harsh military occupation on the still Arab parts of Jerusalem. And clearly there is much more to come.

Evidence that the PLO supported Fatah
The referenced article explicitly says: Investigators found documents showing that the PA had transferred funds to Fatah, the Tanzim, and its affiliated fighters. Other sources expand the information, and give exact amounts of money and accurate identities of the receivers.

So please don't say that "Israeli authorities claim to have found evidence..." they just found evidence for tight connections and financial support between the PLO and Fatah, Tanzim, et al. --Gabi S. 13:36, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

More to the point
The dispute is not wherever the PLO supports the political Fatah organisation but if it dose actually support the military wing of Fatah to help them execute attacks on Israeli targets (civilian or otherwise). No such evidence is in the public domain and so, I would only speculate to its validity.

The same can be said in the case of the IRA and Real IRA and other loyalist militia, some are political and others aren’t despite them having the same goals (more or less).--Palestine48 13:51, 14 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Yes, there is evidence that the PLO helped execute attacks on Israeli targets. And it's in the public domain. Here is one example: An invoice from the Al-Aksa Martyrs asking for reimbursement for, among other things, explosives used in bombings in Israeli cities. This was found in Orient house, with other documents described here. Most of the documents were handed over to the United States, so they are considered secret intelligence documents, not to be put on public domain. However, sample documents are accurately described here. Thus, this issue is now concluded, not disputed. --Gabi S. 15:13, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

The fact that the Alqsa Brigades wrote receipts (financial breakdown) stating that they need money is not unusual and those receipts could have been seized by the IDF from any where and reproduced by anyone, what is questioned here is the direct support of the PLO to the Brigades. Since the PLO financial records are open to scrutiny by its western donors, it would be strange to think that the EU for instance did not find such link.

Before the Hamas government took power all of the PLO offices in Western nation were open and accepting donations and the PLO office in the USA was still open for business.

I think it is more likely that rich Arabs from the UAE or Saudi Arabia or maybe the Iranians are the source of the Funding of the Brigades. --Palestine48 20:21, 14 September 2006 (UTC)


 * The receipts (for explosives used in bombings against Israel) were written by the Brigades, addressed to the PLO and found in the Orient House. For most people, this is proof enough that the PLO financed terrorist attacks. Of course, Londoners are free to believe that Martians reproduced receipts written by anonymous Saudis. --Gabi S. 20:41, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

evidence Al aqsa connections
I inserted a 'reference needed' because this should be referenced. Also it should be stated clearly whether the PLO funded Al aqsa, or the other way around. --JaapBoBo 08:10, 16 October 2007 (UTC)