Claims PLO has taken cash offshore

The Palestinian Authority has transferred tens of millions of dollars overseas in case of a long-term Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, an Israeli newspaper says.

An Israeli document, quoted by Yediot Aharonot newspaper, accuses Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of having transferred US$5.1 million ($10.6 million) into the Paris bank account of his wife Suha.

The document also refers to a transfer of US$70 million by Mahmud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, the number two in the PLO. The paper did not say where the money had been sent.