[vmarks]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1115434040842

Palestinian officials are calling a US House of Representatives offer of $200 million in tentative aid for the Palestinians passed on Thursday a �huge slap in the face,� due to restrictions placed on the spending of that money.

The measure restricts the money from going to the Palestinian Authority or its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, and instead calls for the money to be channeled through American aid agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGO�s) and philanthropic groups.

Edward Abington, a consultant to Palestinian leadership, told the Palestinian Media Center that �The Palestinians will see this as a vote of no confidence in Abu Mazen (Abbas).�

He added that it was a "pretty startling setback for Abbas, who, Abington believes, now has more stringent aid restrictions than former leader Yasser Arafat.

[PacHead]

Yeah, I heard about that. They have some nerve, and the US should be giving the ungrateful palestinians zero dollars. It is good that there is a bunch of restrictions attached to the 200 million though, as the palestinian leadership is not to be trusted, and luckily the US knows this also.

[Millennium]

I'm not familiar with this bill; what sorts of restrictions are to be placed on how the money is spent?

[PacHead]

Originally Posted by Millennium

I'm not familiar with this bill; what sorts of restrictions are to be placed on how the money is spent?

The money will not go directly to the palestinian leadership, as they have been known to buy weapons and finance terrorism with it. It will instead be channeled through other groups, which aids the palestinians directly. Also, 50 million of the 200 will go to Israel to pay for some crossing facility.

[von Wrangell]

So 1/4 of "aid" to Palestine will actually go to Israel?

And people wonder why the Palestinians didn't accept this. My guess is that the US put in something that would make it certain that the Palestinians wouldn't accept it to make them look bad.

[PacHead]

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

So 1/4 of "aid" to Palestine will actually go to Israel?

And people wonder why the Palestinians didn't accept this. My guess is that the US put in something that would make it certain that the Palestinians wouldn't accept it to make them look bad.

Um, actually I think they did accept it. They're entitled to zero dollars, I'm sure they'll take what they can get.

So basically, they're taking the money, while calling it a slap in the face. The USA should show them what a real slap in the face looks like. If they wanted to put their money where their mouths are, they should have declined.

This reminds me of when I gave some bum-begger 25 cents in the street a long time ago, and the genius started to complain.

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by PacHead

This reminds me of when I gave some bum-begger 25 cents in the street a long time ago, and the genius started to complain.

Have you shown him what a real slap in the face is? LOL!

Taliesin

[Eynstyn]

Originally Posted by von Wrangell

So 1/4 of "aid" to Palestine will actually go to Israel?

And people wonder why the Palestinians didn't accept this. My guess is that the US put in something that would make it certain that the Palestinians wouldn't accept it to make them look bad.

So why USA give aid to any country? Be nice guy? Maybe. Make country friendly to USA? Maybe.

Why USA give free health care to immigrent? Be nice big daddy? Maybe. Make immigrent stay in USA? Maybe.

USA do many good thing to be nice guy but USA do many things to encourage certain behaviors.

The US wants to encourage better relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. If the aid money to the Palestinians comes with stipulations it is probably desined to promote positive changes that might not happen without the aid money and the stipulations.

The cynicism of your comment reflects the level of illness that exists surrounding the whole issue. If the US can't use reason to get both sides to do what is clearly in everyone's best interests then money must be used judiciously to effect positive change.

We can only thank all the Gods in heaven (lol) that even amidst the mind numbing hatred that the profit (Greed?) motivation remains alive and well.



Another thing to consider, although this is a bit of a stretch, is that if Abbas really wants to lead his people to statehood and everything wonderful, he may have asked or agreed that the money not be given him directly.

Remember, Arafat used money to buy allegiance and loyalty. There are any numbers of money grubbers who would love Abbas to have money becuase they might once again be in line for some sweet hand-outs. If Abbas didn't give them the money they want, they could force his hand and maybe force him out by threatening and then following through with more terrorist attacks.

By not having the money given him directly he avoids this potential problem yet the money goes where it is needed and to good use.

A bit far fetched, but it is something to ponder before judging things on face value, alone.