PA Sources Confirm Funds Transferred to MK Ayman Odeh

Palestinian Authority sources have told i24NEWS that suspicions of funds transferred from the PA to Joint List chairman MK Ayman Odeh do not surprise them. According to Arab affairs analyst Baruch Yedid, the sources claim that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) supported Odeh's political activity and that funds were transferred to him for social, public and political work.

The sources who spoke with Yedid said that "the PA president is an enthusiastic supporter of Ayman Odeh's political activity." According to them, some of the funds came from Palestinian businessmen living abroad, after Abbas approached them and asked them to support the MK's work. They claim that such requests were made in recent months as well.

The sources said another alleged source of funds transferred to Odeh was the Palestinian National Fund. However, the fund's chairman, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, categorically denied the claims in a conversation with i24NEWS.

At the same time, Israeli sources claimed that funds were actually transferred in envelopes from suspect sources, allegedly for political purposes. Those sources estimated that there is a possibility of involvement by the Palestinian National Fund in transferring the funds.

The report follows journalist Avishay Grinzweig's disclosure that MK Ayman Odeh is the senior politician being investigated on suspicion of receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash from a foreign entity. At this stage, these are suspicions and claims by various sources, not proven findings.

Earlier this week, i24NEWS reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini requested to investigate Ta'al chairman Ahmad Tibi, Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas, and Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, who was disqualified from running in the elections.

According to the report, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanded to receive evidence that would justify opening an investigation against the three before giving her approval. According to the publication, the required evidentiary basis has not yet been presented in their cases, while an investigation is being conducted regarding another MK, whose name has now been cleared for publication.