'Arafat's a billionaire'

by Nina Gilbert 
Jerusalem Post
August 14, 2002 

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's is worth an estimated 
$1.3 billion, OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash) told 
the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday. 

Ze'evi also said that Arafat's financial adviser Muhammed Rashid is 
continuing to channel funds to Arafat, despite the progress made by 
newly appointed Finance Minister Salem Fayad in taking control of 
the ministry's finances. 

According to Ze'evi, the income from PA monopolies is still being 
channeled to Arafat and Fayad has not yet succeeded in taking control 
of that money. 

As for Arafat's position, Ze'evi said that he is "isolated," but is 
maintaining his power and legitimacy by means that include the 
meetings of his ministers with Israeli officials. 

Even those who are close to Arafat are trying to maintain a distance 
from him, and are insisting on being part of the decision-making as 
a condition for cooperation with him, he added.

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What $1.3b could do

by Tal Muscal 
Jerusalem Post
August 14, 2002 

With wealth greater than that of Jeff Bezos, founder and chairman of 
Amazon.com ($1.23 billion, according to Fortune magazine), 
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat could pour his money 
into new housing, hospitals, and health care. 

For $1.3 billion, 40,625 six-family dwellings could be built for PA 
residents ($32,000 per unit). 

It could feed 3 million Palestinians for an entire year, and leave 
$892 million to be spent on 1,000 mobile intensive care units 
($69,900 each), as well as funding for 10 hospitals, such as Gaza's 
Ahli Arab Hospital, for 10 years, leaving $585m. to fund other social 
projects such as: 

Computerization of 10 hospitals at a cost of $4.57m. 

The annual salaries of 10,000 medical employees ($4,200 each). 

Hepatitis vaccinations for 3 million PA residents 
($11.25 per injection). 

The price quotes are based on statistics of NGOs providing 
humanitarian assistance to the PA, presented by the American 
Israel Public Affairs Committee.