Israel frees funds for Abbas; Hamas calls it bribery
100720
Israel agreed on Sunday to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's new government, a move Hamas dismissed as "bribery" to fuel tensions with Islamists controlling Gaza.
465394
The rival Hamas and Fatah movements agreed on a plan implicitly recognizing Israel, a top Palestinian official said Tuesday after weeks of acrimonious negotiations meant to lift crippling international aid sanctions.
330526
Israel backs the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners in a show of support for Palestinian president Abbas.
282978
The move ends Israelâs fiscal isolation of the Palestinians, which began with the installation of a Hamas government last year.
197298
Israel released the top Hamas leader in the West Bank from prison on Thursday after he finished a 28-month sentence for being a member of an outlawed organization.
91399
Israeli officials said it was a gesture to Egypt for freeing a convicted Israeli spy, and to the new Palestinian leadership ahead of next month&#39;s Palestinian elections.
203918
Israel said the Palestinian prime minister was carrying millions of dollars in cash that could be used for terrorist attacks.
65469
Abbas dissolves the government, but  Hamas now controls Gaza. For Israel, the choice is between trying to reverse that reality, or dealing  with the Islamists
768018
The Palestinians&#039; Hamas-led government, nearly bankrupted by international sanctions, has resorted to bringing in cash in suitcases to help keep itself afloat. But given the government&#039;s crushing debt, a scolding from European border monitors and Israeli concerns the money could be used for violence, the tactic could fizzle out fast.
690784
President Bush on Wednesday approved  $20 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority to help  pay its Israeli utility bills after key lawmakers objected to  plans to use the money for presidential elections in January  and to pay Palestinian salaries.
499125
Israel will resume as early as Sunday the transfer of tax funds to the Palestinian government for the first time in 17 months to bolster President Mahmoud Abbas, officials said.
470180
The move is meant to help Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle against Hamas.
337964
Israel sought on Monday to shore up  European support for a U.S.-backed strategy of isolating Hamas  in Gaza while freeing funds for President Mahmoud Abbas&#39;s  emergency cabinet in the occupied West Bank.
279818
"We will work to secure all basic needs for our people in Gaza"  The emergency government that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas installed after Islamic militants seized control of Gaza reaped its first windfall on Monday, with the European Union promising to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in crucial aid.The EU traditionally has been the Palestinian Authority's largest donor, and the reinstatement of aid, cut off after the Islamic Hamas movement took power 15 months ago, could signal the beginning of the end to a crippling international boycott. Read more
743062
Israel's cabinet agreed on Sunday to  free dozens of Palestinian prisoners in a move meant to show  goodwill ahead of elections to replace Yasser Arafat, officials  said.
440340
Israel blocked Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, from returning to Gaza on Thursday after a visit abroad, in an effort to prevent him bringing in money donated by Iran.
44963
The Bush administration announced Wednesday that it would provide $23.5 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority to help conduct elections