European Union resumes aid to Palestinians

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=c0c76adccc2efee4

The European Union agreed Monday to unblock short-term aid for the financially struggling Palestinian Authority.

But, it remains unclear whether European financing will continue after the new Palestinian cabinet is sworn in.

The roughly $144 million in European Union aid is expected to cover just the essentials for the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority. A large chunk is earmarked to pay the Palestinian government's energy bills. An even larger slice will be funneled through the United Nations to pay for things like education, health and social services in the Palestinian territories. Only a small percentage, about $21 million, will go to paying Palestinian government salaries.
more...
If America won't give it to them they will find the money somewhere else...

[AngryAmish]

1. NYT: Europeans Plan Partial Bailout of Palestinians

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/international/middleeast/28mideast.html?ei=5094&en=953fce1a430bf923&hp=&ex=1141189200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all>

"After receiving a dire warning that the Palestinian Authority was so short of money that it might collapse in two weeks, the European Union on Monday offered $144 million in aid to the Palestinians before a Hamas government takes power."

[rfkrfk]

2. does anyone really believe this fairy tale?

c'mon folks, grow up.
most of the money goes to graft.

there is a reason why Palis' pay
above-world prices for everything.

multiple layers of kickbacks, graft, etc

[MrPrax]

3. Well if you feel that strongly about graft...

then stop paying taxes...

BTW um--your are aware of the activities of Sharon's family members, correct? The Court cases? The Casino's? Abramoff's bilking of Americans to fund extremist terrorists? The Russian mobs and the Patriarchs?

Surely if corruption and graft was your MAIN concern, then you might really question where all that US aid to Israel really goes?

You know there is more than enough corruption to go around, but I figure that making sure school kids and hospitals get a cut out of it is not perfect, but necessary nonetheless...

[Colorado Blue]

4. I hate to tell you this but there is no comparison between

Abramoff's and Omri Sharon's misdeeds, the Russian mob, the Patriarchs, and the state of Israel.

In fact I don't actually see any linkage between them to begin with(?)

Israel on a recent corruption index survey of 158 nations, actually rated well on a scale of LEAST corrupt governments worldwide - though admittedly it has slipped somewhat in the last year.

Finland is at the top with a confidence rating of 9.7. The United States is rated 17th with a confidence rating of 7.6, Israel and Oman rate 28th at 6.3, Palestine shares position #107 with a confidence rating of 2.6; Chad is at the bottom - 1.7.

[MrPrax]

5. LOL...

Sounds like an interesting survey...why not post it?

Love to see where the Bahamas, Liechenstein or the Dutch Antilles end up--probably near the top, I suspect, as those darling little countrys don't have a lot of corruption and graft either. ;-)

The fellows' original point was 'don't give those guys money, coz they are corrupt' is a distant second to the 'don't give those guys money, coz they are terrorists'...

How about don't give the PA the money that is owned to them, because they are annoying to Israel...since that's what your saying anyway.

[Colorado Blue]

6. Here, sorry to disappoint you but Bahamas, Lichtenstein

and the Dutch Antilles don't show up near the top either. I fact I didn't see them on the list.

http://ww1.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005.sources.en.html

You are making light of a very serious problem within the Palestinian Authority, which is the disappearance of billions and billions of dollars that have been given to the Palestinian people, and which has completely disappeared.

I don't think that's funny.

Also, I don't think Hamas has merely been "annoying".

[MrPrax]

7. Yeah...

It is a serious situation where one country has occupied and killed several thousands of people and THEN wants to steal what little revenue their are lawfully allowed by the State of Israel...also I am not SO sure that billions have disappeared, but I am aware that the Arafats et al were corrupt.

The Palestinians people also thought that and voted them OUT in large numbers.

Then Israel demanded that Hamas pretend to be like PLO (corrupt, ineffectual, passive) and then they proposed they be put on a 'diet' and then they announced a collaborative effort with the US to cut funding and 'full court' press Hamas to do 'something' that the PLO/Fatah has already done (recognition, accepted right of return,etc)

Not really very clear what Israel wants these days since Olmert said just yesterday that Abbas and Hamas are no different and the 'world' shouldn't be fooled. harhar...

Nope...I sure as hell won't be fooled by the simple fact that Israel is in violation of international law, illegally occupies lands not recognized as their borders, building a huge concrete wall that is illegal(surely no corruption there, unlike Arafat's concrete companies), allows it's INTEL services to operate illegally, without sanction and with ID of foreign nationals, industrial espionage, never allowed a IAEA inspection in it's existence etc etc...

Can't fool me into thinking that a country that is in such violation of basic law has ANY right to assume it's security is an issue to anyone...including you ;-)

[The Stranger]

8. They aren't concerned about graft -- they are trying to delegitmize Hamas.

Isn't $50 million of the money taxes Israel collects but has not paid to the Palestinians?

[MrPrax]

9. Bingo...

We have a winner...

jeez seems like ONLY yesterday that the The Peace Process in the ME was in jeopardy!!

Israel wouldn't talk 'roadmap' because the PLO refused to have elections like they were obliged to do under Oslo (an agreement the Israelis never followed anyway and Sharon walked out on the Geneva Accord)...:eyes:

Can't believe there are still people who believe Israel is remotely serious about ANY negotiations ever. The 'peace process' is simply 'perception management' done for the polities of the various Quintet countries.

[rfkrfk]

10. there is a reason why the Palis' want Israel to collect taxes ...

that way, easier for the people at the top
to steal it, by cutting out low level officals aka thieves

[The Stranger]

11. No, but perhaps easier for the Palestinians to never see the money.

Most Israelis acknowledge that the reason Fatah was replaced was due to graft and Hamas' somehow being able to operate more responsibly.

[rfkrfk]

12. Israel gets their cut

the remainder goes right to the top of the Palis leadership

seems like a goood deal for the Palis' leadership