Cut off (for the moment at least) from American and other infidel subsidies, the Hamas rulers of of the Palestinian Authority are resorting to fundraisers of a peculiarly Palestinian sort. MEMRI reports and offers a TV link to the grotesque details:

Auctioneer: Brothers, there is a man who left us a few years ago. He
sacrificed his soul, as a mujahid for the sake of Allah. Everybody
knows him. Palestine knows him. Egypt knows him. The land of
Palestine and the land of the world... Every proud free man in the
world knows him — The leader of 'Izz Al—Din Al—Qassam Brigades, Sheik Sallah Shehada.

Oh Muslims, on the land of Gaza, on the land of Palestine, and around
the world — Today we are opening the auction of a jacket which
belonged to the martyred leader Sallah Shehada. Who will buy it in
support of the government of Palestine?

Twenty dinars. Who offers a higher bid?

Five hundred dollars. Allah Akbar, praise be to Allah. Who offers a
higher bid?

One thousand dollars. Who offers more?

Man: Who wants to buy a place in heaven for a small sum in this world[...]

Auctioneer: The son of our prime minister has just called us. He said
that the prime minister's wife is donating her gold jewelry, as well
as the gold of her daughters—in—law. This is how leaders should be.
They make sacrifices, even before their people. [...]

Man: Brothers, Mr. Abu Akram Bahr, may Allah protect him, is holding
the sum bid for the jacket.

Mr. Abu Akram Bahr: It has reached 3,000 Jordanian dinars.

Ed Lasky   5 25 06