US asks Palestinians to return aid (Reuters)

[Career Prole]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has asked the Palestinian Authority to return $50 million in U.S. aid because Washington does not want a Hamas-led government to have the funds, the State Department said on Friday.

The money is being demanded as part of a review of all U.S. aid for the Palestinians which began soon after the militant group Hamas' surprise win in elections last month. The State Department expects to finish the review in the next few weeks.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the caretaker government of President Mahmoud Abbas had agreed to return the $50 million, which was given to the Palestinian Authority last year for infrastructure projects after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

"In the interests of seeing that these funds not potentially make their way into the coffers of a future Palestinian government (made up of Hamas) ... we have asked for it to be returned and the Palestinian Authority has agreed," McCormack told reporters...

LINK

Unbelievable...we're punishing these voters because the vote didn't turn out the way DimSon wanted it?
Hey, Condescenda...you're going to need more than that $75 million you asked for to peddle "democracy" in Iran. A little paint and "new car smell" spray ain't going to disguise this wreck.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. We're the great champions of democracy, right?

So to show this we withdraw aid from a democratically elected government. Actions speak louder than words.

[Career Prole]

3. I kinda hope they have themselves

a very public referendum on whether or not to return it.
Whether or not one likes the results of the election, what these folks did was vote the way Amurrikan republicans taught 'em to vote..."Day-um! We're at war! We need a war preznit!"
:shrug:

[54anickel]

4. Winning hearts and minds....

Couldn't it just be channeled to nongovernmental organizations as it has in the past? Some sort of "trust fund" with over-sight for infrastructure to help the people?

Over the past decade, the United States has given about $1.5 billion in aid to the Palestinians. Most of that was channeled via nongovernmental organizations.

[classysassy]

2. Our friends

in the middle east are uneasy about someone else getting american aide.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. I would tell the US govt. that the $50,000,000 is hanging out

with the 8,000,000,000+ that got "lost" in Iraq. In other words it's a little unavailable right now. "But we'll get back to you".

[Career Prole]

7. LOL!

It's in the mail...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

13. "Whaaaaa, you haven't recieved it yet? That is so weird." n/t

[Scurrilous]

6. Hamas: World won't let us starve

Senior Hamas members say they are not scared by Israeli threats, anti-PA measures

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3217641,00.html

<snip>

"Israeli threats and reports about the measures the Jewish state intends to adopt against Hamas do not scare the Islamic movement and the Palestinian people, Hamas members said Friday.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the moves announced by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz constitute collective punishment aimed at thwarting the new Palestinian government and mark the continuation of the policy of oppression adopted by Israel against the Palestinians.

Haniyeh made the remarks following a meeting at his home with Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip. He added that the planned Israeli measures will not defeat the Palestinian people or bring about a change in Hamas' positions.

Another senior figure, Mahmoud al-Zahar, said following the meeting that the Hamas movement will know how to protect itself in the face of the punitive steps planned by Israel. Al-Zahar made it clear Hamas will not allow Israel to starve the Palestinian people.

"The world will cooperate with Hamas and with the Palestinian government. The Israeli and American governments will find themselves isolated within the international community," he said."

[Career Prole]

8. "will find themselves isolated within the international community"

The Israeli and American governments will find themselves isolated within the international community," he said."

Beyond even the self-isolation of placing fingers in ears and yelling lalalalalalaIcan'thearyou!"

[Scurrilous]

10. The US and Israel....

...won't be totally isolated.

I heard Micronesia has their back. :thumbsup:

[Up2Late]

9. You've got to be kidding!!!!

Unbelievable how inept these idiots are, I'm sure Clinton would have figured out how to handle this better than this. :crazy:

[azurnoir]

11. What worries me

is * has got to know that they're not getting this money back, so obviously this is political posturing, but to what end?

[Career Prole]

18. Just trying to toss his base red meat, would be my guess.

What better way than blaming part of that irksome deficit on this? It'll work on several levels.
Welcome to DU, azurnoir! :hi:

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. I think i read somewhere

that the U.S. gives the Palestinians more money in aid than all the other mid-east nations do. Isn't there something wrong with that?

[wookie294]

14. Israel, not Palestine, gets most of the U.S. aid in the Mideast

Actually, Iraq gets most of the aid, then Israel, Egypt, then Turkey. That's what I've heard.

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. no no

what i mean is, of all the aid that the Palestinians get, more of it comes from the United States than from any of the other arab nations. I think they get most of their aid from Japan and Holland or Denmark or something.

[rodeodance]

16. i think she asked for 175 m

Hey, Condescenda...you're going to need more than that $75 million you asked for to peddle "democracy" in Iran. A little paint and "new car smell" spray ain't going to disguise this wreck.

[Career Prole]

17. Man, if she isn't careful

she'll be rivalling that $1.6 billion they spent in America on "democracy" propaganda. :D

[xchrom]

19. indian giver.

the u.s. demands democracy in palestine -- and they get democracy -- but they don't like the results -- so now they piss and moan that they want their jacks back and they want to go home.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[HuffleClaw]

20. bwahaahahhahahaaa

they are just simply determined to piss off everyone aren't they? that is some offensive, just a complete and utter disgrace and a real statement on just how much bushco. values 'democracy'.

[MisterP]

21. yes, acting like a spoiled 5-year-old will get us peace

it's what got * into office, ya know

[Zhade]

22. Worse - we're punishing their CHILDREN.

Who, of course, can't vote and are innocent of wrongdoing (not that I think the vote was wrongdoing, even though I don't care for Hamas).

[Career Prole]

24. Yep...shrubco is punishing their children.

He hasn't done our own children any damned good either. :grr:

[LynnTheDem]

23. gotta be fucking kidding...

:wow:

[Miss Chybil]

25. Yes, how dare they vote for somebody Bush didn't approve of? nt

[pinniped]

26. Since the repukes said they won't recognize Hamas, they might as well....

keep the loot because that's the last batch they're likely to see.

[Career Prole]

28. We continue to pay taxes to PNAC's government. Let's withhold aid

from them. In fact, let's demand they return what we've paid since the first stolen election.

[Charlie Brown]

27. I don't think we should be funding the Israelis or the Palestinians

Both sides have a lot to answer for, and should not be relying on US taxpayer money for aid.