Posted on 02/09/2008 3:53:26 PM PST by SJackson
US sees Palestinian forces needing billions in aid
American officials estimate billions of dollars needed to train and restructure PA security forces; only $86 million spent so far. None of funds garnered from Palestinian donor conference earmarked for security overhaul
Reuters Published: 02.09.08, 17:07 / Israel News www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504610,00.html
Building Palestinian security forces for a future state will require a multibillion-dollar infusion of donor funds dwarfing existing commitments, according to US estimates shared with European and Israeli officials.
A Palestinian security plan backed by Washington calls for consolidating President Mahmoud Abbas' forces into a nearly 50,000-member gendarmerie that can both police civilians and rein in militants who could try to block any future peace deal.
Internal cost estimates for the overhaul, $4.2 billion to $7 billion over five years, were compiled by US security officials and their Palestinian counterparts, and recently shared with Israel and foreign diplomats, who expressed doubts that donors would produce such large sums anytime soon.
Only $86 million in funding from the United States has materialized so far to help build up Abbas's forces, which were routed from the Gaza Strip in June by Hamas Islamists who receive support from Iran and oppose the peace talks.
The funding gap highlights one of the biggest hurdles facing a US push to reach a statehood agreement.
Even if a deal is reached before US President George W. Bush leaves office next January, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed not to implement it until Abbas reins in militants, both in the West Bank, where his Fatah faction dominates, as well as in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
The US Consulate in Jerusalem declined comment on the cost estimates, which a European diplomat said painted a picture of "how things might look at the end" and may be overstated.
"It shows the enormous challenge that lies ahead," a Western diplomat said of getting donors to make such large, long-term investments in Abbas's forces and creating a pension scheme to lure older commanders and fighters into retirement.
Diplomats say none of the $7.7 billion pledged to the Palestinians at a donors conference in Paris in December was earmarked for the security overhaul, though a portion could be redirected in future to meet some of the security needs.
The newly appointed US envoy for Middle East security, James Jones, is preparing a report that will assess Palestinian security needs and how to ensure any future withdrawal of Israeli troops would not create a security vacuum.
Training costs and pensions
Diplomats said the $4.2 billion to $7 billion estimate was based on the projected cost of providing Abbas's forces with the infrastructure, equipment and training they would need.
The security overhaul calls for reducing the size of Palestinian forces by about one-third. By offering retirement incentives, Abbas's government hopes to avert a backlash from Fatah's old-guard and heavily-armed clans now on the payroll.
One European diplomat compared it to decommissioning.
"It's not cheap," said another diplomat briefed on the numbers. "But the price of this end-game is not that relevant. What is important is how you get there... How many people should be paid this year? How many people should be retired this year?"
US-taxpayer money for advanced training in Jordan started arriving last fall, nearly two-and-a-half years after Washington first dispatched a team to help coordinate Palestinian security.
The first battalion -- nearly 700 US-vetted recruits -- began a four-month, $15 million course last month. The training program is projected to graduate only 2,000 of Abbas's men in 2008, Bush's timeframe for a statehood deal.
Though Middle East envoy Tony Blair declared this week that the capabilities of Abbas's forces have "significantly" improved, Israeli officials insist that they have a long way to go, citing Monday's suicide bombing in Dimona.
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$7 billion for weapons for Fatah?
We've been doing this for 13 years now, time to change the pattern. Condi, I know you're wrapped up in Alabama and all the stuff, but GWB, are you really this stupid.
50,000, they had 70,000 under arms, American arms, and they walked away from Gaza without a fight. They'll take the arms, they can kill Jews with them, but lack of arms and training isn't the problem.
You’ve got what amounts to two rival street gangs running a country and we’re going to send them money for more weapons and training? These people are pretty well skilled at killing each other already.
Should we set aside some money for the Crips and Bloods while we’re at it?
It’s stuff like this that makes you wonder that maybe Ron Paul isn’t quite as kooky as he’s made out to be. (No, I’m not a Ron Paul supporter.)
I hear they still have a lot of ice left over from Katrina. Send that.
Their Arab “brothers” in Saudi Arabia are making almost billion dollars a day. Let them take care of it.
Laugh or cry, that’s the choice.
President Bush needs to either get his head examined or find a new Sec of State. You can’t throw money down this rat hole.
We will have no say at all when Israel is attacked by Palestine and they strike back. There will be no pulling them back when it starts. You can’t hit the dog with a stick for long before the dog goes for your throat.
Weapons to the demented?
How about some sending them some of that stuff grown in Afghanistan—opiates of varied kinds.
Now, I’m just a country boy, but it seems to me we’ve been pouring billions down this rat hole for a long time, to no avail.
Sheesh...even the other Arab states think the Palestinians are second class citizens and not deserving of aid or assistance.
We might want to take a hint...
A whole lot of $hit stops if these idiots are more focused on feeding themselves than killing off Isaelis...
Just sayin’...
“A whole lot of $hit stops if these idiots are more focused on feeding themselves than killing off Isaelis...”
Good logic, but those people wouldn’t know logic if it tripped them. They’re version of logic is a bit more primitive.
If they’re starving, it’s the Israelis fault and the only solution is to kill Israelis.
If they’re not starving, they don’t have enough land and it’s the Israelis fault and the only solution is to kill Israelis.
What part of the constitution says we have to give millions of dollars to people who hate us? If the government needs to waste a few million it should give it to me instead of the terrorist.
I'm one of the few people here who supported the Gaza withdrawl, though certainly not the way it was effected, and I'm supportive of foreign aid, but yes as GWB proposed in his first year in office and immediately forgot, with lots of strings.
I'd support aid to the palestinians if conditioned on a cessation of incitement in the schools and media, and a crackdown on terror. Not much to ask, they agreed to that 15 years ago.
To ship the weapons, freestyle.
Is no one at home in the adminstration?
Billions in Aid to Pakistan?
Only if the Islamic Oil barons throughout the middle east PAY FOR IT...
We ALREADY have the weapons, means and desire to resolve the “problem” in the “territories.”
Give us the okay to reduce the area to a smoldering single layer of rubble - or screw off.
No money up front — no more weapons....
No more charity to Islamists who want us dead..
The Islamic community has MORE money on hand than we do..
Who cheered when the Twin Towers collapsed? Peace through strength, send the weapons to Israel.
Clinton thought he had it, offered Arafat 97% of what he wanted, and he said no.
They don't want peace, they want money and Israel gone, wiped out, killed, every last one and pushed into the sea.
The other countries in the area are the relatives of the Arabs in Palestine but they won't help them.
They are using them as pawns in their "war" against Israel and the US, and as leverage against the Jews.
All the other countries want Israel wiped out, but pretend they don't. (well not very well for the astute)
The surrounding countries do not want the Palestinians to have their own state.
I do.
Give them some of Israel's land (all of it is Israel's anyway) and let them become an autonomous country of their own.
The when they attack Israel, it will be a legitimate act of war and Israel can conquer them and take back the land.
The unarmed Palestinians can absorb into Israel or be expelled.
Isn't Israel the only country that has legitimately won a war against aggressors and then given land back to them?
Well, it does go for food and stuff like that.
Maybe .01 percent, the rest to fight against Israel.
“I’d support aid to the palestinians if conditioned on a cessation of incitement in the schools and media, and a crackdown on terror. Not much to ask, they agreed to that 15 years ago.”
You’re asking a people to change their culture and asking both ‘gangs’ to give up their power. It’s not going to work.
Their leaders fan hatred of the Jews by blaming the Jews for all of the leaders’ shortcomings. This is how they keep power.
Oh, and they’ve agreed to a few things in the last thirty years or so have broken just about every promise. At least they’re consistent.
Hey, I’ll take half of what you want. That will result in an immediate 50% cost reduction.
Well put. I was going to ask who they needed protection from too, but it got lost in my rant.
When I’m thinking really darkly I sometimes wish we would arm both sides to the teeth and let them kill each other. I believe they would try to kill each other off before trying to wipe Israel off the map. How sick is that?
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