WEST BANK: U.S. comes to the rescue

The United States on Wednesday proved once again that it is a friend the Palestinian Authority can rely on in times of difficulty, at least economically. Politically, the Palestinians are not so sure.

After a brief signing ceremony at Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s office in Ramallah, the U.S. forwarded to the Palestinian Authority $150 million for budget support.

Even though the amount is only a fraction of what Israel gets every year from the U.S., which amounts to billions of dollars, Fayyad nevertheless warmly welcomed the support, considering it a lifesaver.

“We really appreciate this assistance because it is highly responsive to our needs,” said Fayyad. “We have faced quite serious financial difficulty for the past few months that made our life extremely difficult,” he said.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined the event from Washington via a video conference connection. She started her speech by criticizing Israel for continuing to build in what she described as “sensitive areas of East Jerusalem.”

She said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” by this policy, which was “counterproductive to our efforts to resume negotiations” between the Palestinians and Israel.

The short-lived talks ended abruptly late in September when Israel refused to extend a 10-month moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements.

The Palestinians were also strongly critical of Israel’s latest announcement that it intends to build 1,300 Jewish housing units in East Jerusalem. Israeli news reports also have said that Israel is moving ahead with 800 units in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided Wednesday to ask the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss Israel’s construction on land that Israel occupied in June 1967 and which Palestinians hope will be their future state.

Clinton applauded Abbas and Fayyad for their efforts to consolidate what she termed as “a credible partner for peace.”

“I want to congratulate President Abbas and you, Prime Minister, on everything that your government has accomplished. It is a testament to your leadership and skill as well as to the talents and determination of the Palestinian people themselves,” she said.

The $150-million budget support is part of a $225 million the U.S. has pumped into the Palestinian budget this year and part of an overall $600-million financial support to the Palestinian people.

“This figure underscores the strong determination of the American people and this administration to stand with our Palestinian friends even during difficult economic times, as we have here at home,” said Clinton.

“This new funding will help the Palestinian Authority pay down its debt, continue to deliver services and security to its people and keep the progress going,” she said.
 
But the Palestinians want more than just financial support. They want Israel’s No. 1 ally to help rein in a government that is taking 17 years of peace process down the drain and the region down the path of war and strife.

“Madam Secretary,” said Fayyad addressing Clinton, “in the period ahead we certainly will continue to look to you for continued strong leadership as you continue to try hard to put together elements that are necessary to have a strong political process, a credible political process, one that is capable of delivering that which we all want to see happen, an end to the Israeli occupation.”

-- Maher Abukhater in Ramallah, West Bank

Photo: Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah and Secretary Clinton from Washington via video conference. Credit: Mustafa Abu Dayya, prime minister's office  

Comments

[me.yahoo.com/a/OdYMp9d2q5dlq9G1Lkg_U1KFd0xTr9edV9Lt]

It's really too bad, in view of the desperate need to keep our own money at home, that the U.S. doesn't fund this support for Palestinians by reducing the handout to our "ally" Israel. That would be fair, since Palestinians wouldn't need help if Israel behaved in an honorable manner. Or even obeyed international law occasionally.
One of these days, remembering the Holocaust won't be enough.

[Dean Blake]

@ jane - no another $150 million went to the Palestinans this week and the $3.4 million Yasser Arafat Museaum is going to be added along side Fatah Headquarters.
This is the same Arafat and PA that over thirty years made over $ 1.4 billion in US and, UN and EU aid disappear allegedly into Swiss bank accounts, but its unacconted for to this day. His widow and daughter live today in high style on the French Rivera. The money was more probably distributed in the Arab world thru its informal banking systems e.g. to Palestinians to finance the cocain trade in the South American 'golden triangle' of Uruguay/Brazil/Paraguay where they are big 'players'.

[David Appletree]

the "Palestinian Authority" works for US interests, not Palestinian interests, that's why it relies on foreign Aid

[jane]

Yasser Araft Museaum in Israel?

Why he was born in Egypt..why don't they put one there?

[sam]

yes we /israel receive money from the usa,but we dont use it to blow up our allies,watch out america how much of this money is going to end up with the terrorist enemy,i have noted in the past that the usa has lost track of huge amounts of cash,ending up in crooks pockets and the purchase of weapons to use against america ,well done hillary clinton i expect some-one will turn up to remove your foot from your mouth,watch out america the terrorists are on their way to say thanks for the cash, how much does an american life cost,about 150 million.
still when hillary clinton is your new countries president you can all call your-selves,mohamed. thank you.

[Dean Blake]

$ 3.4 million of US tax dollars described above is going for a new Yasser Araft Museum!!! That'll be a big help to Middle East peace, a monument to the Palestinian 'leader' who "Never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity" to settle for peace. As if a Mosque, a pool/fountain and minerett on his tomb were not enough.

@ geo88a - "occupation of Palestinian ancestral homeland"? what does that mean? since 1967? hence the Yasser Araft Museaum is a fitting monument to the origins of the "Palestinian People". A monument to the man who invented the Palestinian national narrative.
Arabs didn't leave the Saudia Arabian peninsula until after 614 CE and the current landless peasant Arabs started arriving in 1939; prior they were mostly transient bedouihns.

[Amir]

"They want Israel’s No. 1 ally to help rein in a government that is taking 17 years of peace process down the drain and the region down the path of war and strife."

Is Maher Abukhater a local stringer or an opinion writer for the times? That is ridiculous. The Palestinians refused to negotiate during the 10 month temporary freeze, then when it ended they wanted another one, just to get them to the negotiating table. All the while they refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, which really makes one question whether there is any peace deal to be made.

[steveg68]

Here's a thought: Gaza could be annexed by Egypt, and the West Bank by Jordan. Naturalize the population as citizens. Problem solved. Oh yeah, those countries would have to agree to not invade Israel again (for the cajillionth time).

[Chris Neverman]

Wow, a whoppin $150 million, that's like what? 2 of the planes Israel uses to drop white phosphorous on Palestinian civilans?

[today]

Here we are out of work and losing our homes and Clinton give millions to people who burn our flag and shout death to America..

Can't wait to vote her and the rest of them out...

[Marc Fauconnier]

Ironically, Israel want their No. 1 ally to help rein in a PA government that is taking 17 years of peace process down the drain and the region down the path of war and strife ;-)

[Joe]

May our president survive his political choices, he pushed through Clinton's health care reform of 1990's and basically following their school of thought which is not going well with US citizens since they didn't elect her as a president in a first place, I wish Obama stick to his promise of cutting lobbyists influences in US government and be better than JFK presidency, he do have a potential!

[geo88a]

The U.S. should do more to alleviate the occupation of the Palestinians' ancestral homeland.
Withdrawing Israel's financial aid might just the ticket.