Posted on 05/18/2003 12:07:48 AM PDT by chance33_98
US to provide Palestinians additional $50 million in aid
The United States will provide an additional $50 million in assistance to Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, said the State Department. The additional funds, which will be used towards loans for businesses to create jobs and other economic initiatives, brings the total US assistance to the Palestinians to $125 million for the year 2003.
The United States has given over $700 million in assistance to the Palestinians since 1999. With this $50 million, the United States will repair and rebuild critical roads, boosting economic opportunity, increasing access to services, and creating temporary jobs for thousands of Palestinians.
The funding will also support Palestinian civil reform, including the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian judiciary and civil society organizations. The US will also expand its emergency health and humanitarian assistance, including funding of food programs and delivery of pharmaceuticals to Palestinian health clinics.
The United States does not provide any financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization, or affiliated groups. US financial assistance is provided to contractors and non-governmental organizations in the West Bank and Gaza for specifically identified projects and initiatives. — (menareport.com)
Anybody believe those Arafat's thugs don't grift off every project in their little terrorist feifdom?
Note to Palestinians: lock up your sons.
That explains a lot, Michael...
That was a crime, by nothing justified, only to insult the EU and to weaken the Palestinian independance!
Oh please, most reports here placed the value at $60 million, not billions. Read the article, instead of funneling the aid to Switzerland, Yasser can build a new house. Not to worry, he won't waste it on the population.
The airport was destroyed in retaliation for attacks on Israel and her population, as was President Yasser’s compound. Perfectly legitimate.
It’s telling you react to retaliation for the murder of Jews as by nothing justified, indicative of an attitude many here think is gaining currency, along with the accusation it’s only to insult the EU, a rather eurocentric reaction, don’t you think?
I do agree it’s the wrong reaction. The Grand President should have been taken into custody, along with the terrorists he’s sheltering in the compound and made to pay for their crimes.
I’d prefer Yasser was extradited to the US to answer for the murder of our diplomats. After all, we have the death penalty here.
Oh I don't think we need to make any implications Michael, the EU has made it very clear what it's agenda is. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to a terrorist organization who's leadership steals the lion's share, leaving little for the public it's supposed to benefit. Arafat has a few billion in his personal accounts. I'm sure you haven't any idea where that came from. How much has the EU sent Isreal? I only ask since you seem to think the EU is unbiased and treats both sides equally.
Has it every occured to you that Israel doesn't enter the West Bank or Gaza until after terrorist bombings take place? No, I'm sure it hasn't.
You talk of Israel raising Palestinian infrastructure then conveniently forget that much of what has been raised has been terrorist bomb manufacturing facilities and havens for terrorist activists. You saw what took place on 09/11 and still can't fathom a reason why Israel might not want an operating airport on Palestinian territory.
Tell me, do you think that Israel teaches it's children that Palestinians are dogs or monkeys? Does Isreal teach it's children that Palestinians should be wiped from the face of the planet? No Michael, it's the Palestinians who teach their children that these are facts about Jews and Israelis.
Do Synagogues teach their parishoners that all Palestinians should be destroyed? No. Mosques teach this about Israelis and Jews.
Do Israeli newspapers print articles advocating a holocaust against the Palestinians? No. The Palestinian papers advocate this against the Israelis and Jews.
Do Israeli schools teach children to think of Palesinians as dogs or monkeys? No. The Palestinian schools, newspapers and clergy do teach their children to think this way of Israelis and Jews, and train them in grade schools to become suicide bombers and to destroy Israel by any means possible.
Does the Israeli government preach the utter destruction of the Palestinians? No. It is the Palestinian leadership who still advocates the utter destruction of Israel.
Listen bud, if you want to be taken seriously, try some meditation over these simple facts. Next time you come to the forum perhaps you'll have something remotely intelligent to say regarding the PLO and it's leadership.
As for the EU, it is rife with folks who think as you do and haven't a clue. They think Israel is the root of all evil, and terrorism within it's borders is it's just rewards for having the audacity to keep on breathing.
The EU is fast becoming a vast moral wasteland with a citizenry so ill-equiped to recognize truth, that they actually rebuked the US for ousting a dictator responsible for over one millions deaths, the gasing of his own populace and the continuing torture and killing of thousands of his own people, not to mention the near starvation he foisted upon millions of others.
What urks me most about the EU these days, is that it gleefully donates money to an organization that is hell bent upon completing the task Europe sought to finish in the 1930s and 40s, namely the destruction of the Jewish race.
Thanks for confirming for us the sad state of public awareness in the EU Michael.
WRONG, Palestine is a terrorist state who celebrates the homicide bombers and the twin towers attacks. It is hard to see what is more evil than butchering innocent children, but palis have no problem justifying that. Until they drastically their pathetic outlook, then I couldn't give a toss about Gaza international.
In 1948, two nations were drawn up on the territory formerly occupied by Jews and Arabs. One state was Israel. The other was Palestine. One group of people abided by the agreement drawn up to end terrorism and the friction between the two groups. This was the Jews and the state was Israel.
The Arab contingent refused to abide by the agreements. Instead they opted to call for the destruction of Israel and the Jews.
There is only one group of people to blame for the fact that Palestine does not exist today. It is NOT Israel. It is the Palestinian leadership and the populace they lead.
Once again in 2000, agreements were offered which gave the Palestinians most of what they wanted in an effort for peace. The Israeli leader was pressured greatly to get him to cave on many issues. Many thought he was nuts to agree to all that he did. Instead of negotiating in good faith, Yasser Arafat chucked the whole thing.
2. As long people have to live and starve in "refugee camps" and have to watch that their parents are shot, there will be hatred and terror.
Do you know what the unemployment levels were on the West Bank before the latest intefada broke out? It was 30%. Today the unemployment rate is 70%. Due to the terrorist homicide bombings, Israel has had to close down border crossings and limit access to the West Bank. Now, you tell me whose fault that is.
On the one hand Arafat could have ushered in statehood. On the other hand he opted to call an intifada and utterly destroy the commerce on the West Bank. Nice move. And the best part is he could blame Israel for it and some fools would buy off on it.
3. Don´t tell me that millions of Palestinians are terrorists. These poor people just have no independance, no chance to be happy as long the IDF enter their areas and destroy buildings.
I've already discussed why they don't have independence. You should already have known, if you knew anything at all about history.
Let's look at the record. Mosques, newspapers and schools have been focused to call for the destruction of Israel and the suicide bombing of innocent citizens. The Palestinian infrastructure is rife with the underpinnings of terrorism. It permeates the whole of their society. Point to one segment of the populace that outwardly criticizes these policies. Please, point to just one. I'd like to hear about it.
4. The powers within Palestine who condemn terrorism and sucide bombings need to be strenghtened while the US, Israel and the EU work together to build up an independant Palestine. Destroy the roots of terror doesn´t mean to kill Palestinian children but to give them hope as well as prosecuting terror cells.
Surely you jest. I have seen no group on the West Bank condemn terrorism and suicide bombings. Please list the organizations that have.
Countless blown up buses, coffee houses, movie theaters, public markets, and all you can think of is that Israel should join an effort to help establish a nation-state called Palestine. Isn't that what the Palestinians could have had before the bombings? Why yes it is! Duh.
Let me see, a group of people swear to destroy you, then you are demanded to help legitimize them under the auspices of statehood. This is too comical for words. Let me tell you how I see it. Statehood was offered and refused a number of times. Why should Israel be demanded to create statehood for it's sworn enemies? I would back Israel up all the way if it expelled the total Palestinian populace from the West Bank and Gaza. That's how close you and I are to agreement on this subject.
The Palestinians seek to destroy Israel. That premise permiates their society and you refuse to face it, or admit it. They do not deserve statehood.
As for the killing of children, perhaps you can explain why terrorists target buses known to be taking school children to or from school. How about the grandmother who was blown to bits with her grandaughters for simply breathing? Don't give me this "for the children" routine.
5. Those who claim that the EU does not support a safe country named Israel are not worth to talk to. Many billions of DEM were paid to Israel by my country, and surely we have no interests to see more blasts in Jerusalem cafés or malls anymore! It´s ashaming that I have to say that - it´s ashaming what you think of us!
Then don't talk to me. See if I give a darn. I do not see any evidence of European support for Israel's existance. To the contrary, you all remain silent when bombings occur, only mentioning them at all when you condemn Israel for it's responses.
Not only this, you actually give creedence to the idea that terrorism exists because of Israel's actions. Here's a news flash for you, terrorism is NEVER justified. Carrying out acts of violence against public officials or the military is one thing. Seeking to create terror by attacking innocent non-combatants is another completely.
You didn't even bother to address the issue of societal hatred for Israel at all levels. You evidently fail to comprehend the situation.
You state that you have no interest in more bombings occuring. I didn't say you did. What I sought to say is that instead of you coming to this forum to defend the indefensible, you should damn terrorism in no uncertain terms and lament the needless slaughter of innocents in Isreal.
Instead you focused on the cause of terrorism, which is never justified, period. You blamed Israel for creating a situation that justified terrorism. Wrong!
Someone who hadn´t get used to the tone here would be outraged.
Your selective outrage is a sad thing to observe.
That´s all I have to say and I will say to that topic!
Long live the cause of freedom!
Anyone's freedom as long as it's not the Israelis right?
The only thing I know for sure about Ariel Sharon is that he's a nicer guy than I am or than most Americans are. I think I can speak for most Americans in saying that in Sharon's place, I'd have carpet-bombed the Gaza strip two years ago. There's no way in the world Americans would tolerate the kind of crap which appears to be the palistinians' normal stock in trade.
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