The same people screeching and moaning about Israel’s “apartheid wall” have made millions supplying the cement to build it: Palestinians ‘made millions’ selling cheap cement for barrier they bitterly oppose. (Thanks to all who emailed about this story.)

Palestinian businessmen have made millions of pounds supplying cement for Israel’s “security barrier” in the full knowledge of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader and one of the wall’s most vocal critics.

A damning report by Palestinian legislators, which has been seen by the Telegraph, concludes that Mr Arafat did nothing to stop the deals although he publicly condemned the structure as a “crime against humanity”.

The report claims that the cement was sold with the knowledge of senior officials at the Palestinian ministry of national economy, and close advisers to Mr Arafat. It concludes that officials were bribed to issue import licences for the cement to importers and businessmen working for Israelis.

One of the report’s three authors, Hassan Khreishe - an independent legislator and long-term critic of Mr Arafat - last night called for the Palestinian cabinet to resign.

“Wealthy Palestinians with connections at the highest levels have been making millions helping Israel build this wall while Arafat and the Palestinian Authority have been urging people to fight against it,” said Mr Khreishe, a council member from the West Bank city of Tulkarm.

“Why Arafat did nothing about it, we just don’t know.”

That’s a real head scratcher, all right.