Posted on 03/02/2009 10:03:38 AM PST by yoe
CAIRO - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered $900 million for Gazans, and made a commitment to move toward a Palestinian state at a meeting of donor nations Monday in Egypt.
"By providing humanitarian aid to Gaza we also aim to foster conditions in which a Palestinian state can be fully realized, a state that is a responsible partner, is at peace with Israel and its Arab neighbors and is accountable to its people," said Mrs. Clinton at the one-day summit in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.
The meeting was to raise money for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by January's 22-day conflict between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas.
The Palestinian Authority had hoped to raise $2.78 billion, but that sum had been surpassed by pledges made before the summit by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the six member states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
But as foreign ministers took out their checkbooks, the prospect of rebuilding Gaza was complicated by ongoing negotiations in Cairo over the political framework of reconstruction.
Since January, Egypt has mediated talks between Israel and Hamas over a formal truce. In exchange for an end to Hamas rocket-fire into Israel, as well as the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel says it will fully open of Gaza's borders. Egypt is expected to follow suit.
[snip] Donors have made it clear that the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority will be the sole beneficiary of funds raised at Monday's meeting, even though it has not had a presence in Gaza since Hamas expelled it in June 2007.
[snip] They say none of the money pledged in Sharm will go to Hamas.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
From the get-go Hamas moved into that little bit of land and proceeded to trash it including the greenhouses that fed so many. They are still there in Gaza so any aid would naturally help the terrorist.
Don't let these petty politicians throw our friend and ally under the 'bus'...support Israel! Israel has been sending aid right along to help families in Gaza as have others. Hillary is spending non-transparent and money that will be unaccountable into that rat infested terrorist place just a Albright and Bill did.....Arafat's widow managed to put the lion's share of that aid into her Swiss bank account and other 'off shore' banks.
There will be people continuing to pursue Middle East Peace long after this President and the next.
Ah, yes.....gotta love those Clintons and their iron-clad vows.
I actually think Obie-the-wan will get a written agreement for “peace” - perhaps even before year end.
Hey I promise to be peaceful how about sending a million my way?
“pursue” peace? Is this another vague term to tax us more and spend the money on $100/lb. steak?
There will be people continuing to pursue Middle East Peace long after this President and the next.
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pssst, there won’t be a next president. What you see is what you get forever. Remember that I said that. I hope I’m wrong.
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