By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 02:36 07/05/2009 www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1083791.html

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday instructed defense officials
to transfer NIS 50 million to banks in the Gaza Strip in order to help pay
Palestinian Authority salaries.

Despite having waged criticism against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for
similar actions, Netanyahu approved the transfer after meeting on Wednesday
with Quartet envoy Tony Blair.

Blair relayed to Netanyahu the frustration expressed by Palestinian Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad, who complained that Israel is preventing funds from
being transferred to the Strip.

Defense officials told Netanyahu that NIS 50 million would cover PA salaries
and would be enough to save the Gaza banking system from collapse. The sum
is less than what was originally requested by the Palestinian Authority.

A true right wing PM would not give the PA any more money.