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Donors pledge $7.4 billion for faltering Palestinian economy
Roni Sofer
Published: 17.12.07, 22:01
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32 Talkbacks for this article
1. Again?
Joel Bainerman ,   Israel   (12.17.07)
Has anyone seen this movie before? Remember the last time they "pledged" funds to the PA? Remember?
2. another example of emotion over economics
zionist forever   (12.17.07)
The palestians dont exactly have a good history of balancing the budget it either got wasted or was divided between Arafat and his friends while the donor countries turned a blind eye because Arafat was their partner for peace if he screws the economy ok we dont like it but he is a man of peace and we dont want to rock the peace procress. Now Arafats dead its ok to speak the truth but now Abbas is the man they are all calling partner for peace for the sole reason he wears a suit and he isnt Hamas he looks like responsible leader who wants peace. The money will be wasted and not end up being spent on the right things the donors will turn a blind eye because Abbas is the moderate partner for peace and then when he is dead we will all say Abbas was a bad leader and he wasted all our money now lets find our next partner for peace give him a couple of billion to play with. Also untill there is actualy a country you cant create an economy for it. All we have right now is politicians and terrorists all with their own ideas Its like trying to decorate a house that hasnt been built yet. If these people proposed running the economies of their own countries based on emotions then the country would be bankrupt before anybody knew what happened. Its happened before in the west when you had the hardline socialists running things they want to take away from the rich to give to the poor a noble goal but in the end they destroyed the economy and didnt help the poor or the rich.
3. CAN ARABS EVER BE SATISFIED?
Dov   (12.17.07)
Here they get almost 7 billion dollars and are still complaining that they only get 4% of the budget, while they don't contribute to Israel's economy, don't pay taxes and want to see Israel's destruction. Why do we have to support these unhappy people?
4. They all want to pay terrorists to kill Jews!
jason white ,   afula,israel   (12.17.07)
Why didn't the world give money to the survivors of the Holocaust? There are so many peoples suffering in the world today,but everyone has money to murderous terrorists. Of course the filth in the knesset asking for other countries to contribute to these bloody terrorists helped raise the money. What if someone were to donate money to al queda or iraqi terrorists that kill American soldiers,hajj bush and condom would have a fit. But funding the killers of Israelis is okay.
5. I AM TAKING OVER BROOKLYN, SEND ME AID, $5 BILLION WILL DO
..............DACON9   (12.17.07)
6. if
(12.17.07)
when this money finally lands in the palestinians' hands, i would recommend the eu and all international bodies who donated these billions to send not only experts to revive the economy, teach the simplistic incompetent arab how to create this economy and how to work towars this economy, but the nations MUST COMMITT TO SENDING EXPERTS IN BUDGET TO OVERSEE EVERY LAST PENNY OF THESE MILLIONS DISTRIBUTED AND USED FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH THEY WERE DONATED. otherwise, we will see most if not all these billions end either in fatah's swiss bank accounts as arafat did in the past, or as fatah did recently (funds theft and corruption is the reason they were not re-elected) rather than in the hands of the economy or the people it was intended for. this sum of billions must be monitored and not just given as a "gift". such sum has to be donated responsibly and cautiously so that it can have a monitoring body; an organization that is free of arab influence (not anwra again) that will supervise how these funds are distributed and used, who gets them, follow up on projects (arabs are notorious for starting things and never finishing a project). and lastly, arabs, contrary to their tradition have to realize that there is nothing wrong in labour and toiling, in sweat and in building. they can;t sit idly by and expect everyone to take care of them. the same "nationalistic spirit they show for a homeland" must be translated into hard work and a vision, mostly peaceful harworking citizens who instead of kasaams, are building their future and their state in peace alongside israel.
7. Stupid Fayyad Abbas lost Elections!!!! Hamas is official
God   (12.17.07)
8. Pals should go to NYSE.How manyCo can raise7,5B before lunch
Alan ,   SA   (12.17.07)
9. Great news...
Eyal ,   Jerusalem   (12.17.07)
Much needed help from the Int'l community should give Palestinians hope that non-violence and cooperation with Israel will improve all of our lives and lead to economic growth for them and for us. Now let's cancel the Har Homa project, reduce checkpoints in the West Bank where it is feasible, and make a genuine effort to show that Israel means what it says about a two-state soluton.
10. 6
Igor ,   Munich, Germany   (12.17.07)
well said, good post! I wish it could be possible...
11. Eyal
Courage my love ,   Paris, France   (12.18.07)
Your thinking is completely inverted. The money gives Pals the proof that their brutal indiscriminate violence as well as their refusal to compromise on any issue regarding a future Pal state (including Abbas and Fayad's public refusal to accept a jewish state) can pay off spectacularly. Israel's gov't is serious about a 2 state solution- the onus is on the Pals and they can barely tread water, let alone pay lip service in this area. Har Homa should not even be a factor.
12. Unfair. This is "offending the poorest" in rest of the world
KMR ,   Middle East   (12.18.07)
13. no Palestinian will see this money
Igor ,   Munich, Germany   (12.17.07)
what a bullcrap, no Palestinian will ever see this money, there won´t be any economic growth, nothing will change, the money will disappear just as the other 9 billion "but said that there had been poor oversight on how the money was spent.." This is ridiculous. Who´s going to guarantee that now it´ll be overseen properly. no wonder the Palis voted for Hamas if their Abbas kept them in poverty and put all the money into his own pocket.
14. $7 Billion
Ed ,   USA   (12.18.07)
What an unmitigated disply of antisemitism....if it was not for the involvement of the Jews in this conflict the world would not give a second glance at the so called "Palestinians". Where is the equivalent or greater concern for Darfur, Tibet, Chechnya, Sri Lanka, etc. etc. etc.? The world "cares" so much about the so called "Palestinians" because the Jews are involved. This is a massive display of Jew hatred plain and simple... and if you don't see that you are blind.
15. # 9
(12.18.07)
"Much needed help from the Int'l community should give Palestinians hope that non-violence and cooperation with Israel will improve all of our lives and lead to economic growth for them and for us." What does this aid have to do with non-violence and cooperation? They're getting the aid in spite of the rockets and the holding of Shalit. Why should Israel do anything until those two things change?
16. 7.4 billion dollars
I. Barr ,   USA   (12.18.07)
Palestinians have a good business. Since 1948 they got more than 50 billion dollars all gone now including the 7 billions that Arafat embezzled. Now they have another 7.4 billions to embezzle. Why not? Money will also come from UN, Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. A gold mine. Why peace with Israel? This will ruin the business! Besides, This money means 1850 dollars for every Palestinian including babies. Compare to the Africans in Darfur who are getting 5 dollar/soul/year. Is this racist Apartheid attitude? Where is Desmond Tutu?
17. Could the world be any more stupid than this????
Baruch ,   Boston, USA   (12.18.07)
What an enormous waste of money. Consider all the honest poverty in the world. Starving people who are totally innocent of any wrongdoing are not given a penny. And these terrorist killers of anyone not in line with their thinking are being treated royally.
18. Equitable and practicable Partition Plan that may work:
Uzi ,   Haifa   (12.18.07)
Israel should let Hamas to depose Abbas and smash Fatah, also in Judea and Samaria, on their way to abolish the PA and wipe it off the world map and consciousness. Then Israel should get rid of Hamas. This will open the way for the Kingdom of Jordan to take charge as the only viable nation state of all the Arabs of Greater Palestine. Having got rid of the PA and Hamas, Israel and Jordan should agree on the border between them in Judea and Samaria and maybe cede Gaza to Egypt that would sort it out quite smartly. Everybody, Jews and Arabs, should continue to live in peace where they are and nobody should move from their homes or land. Israelis who would thus become residents of the Kingdom of Jordan should be given rights and conditions like the Arabs in Israel.
19. There can never be separate Arab polity west of the Jordan!
Uzi ,   Haifa   (12.18.07)
The Arabs of Western Eretz Yisrael have consistently demonstrated that they are incapable of surviving unaided or ruling themselves, especially at the national polity level. They have never exercised their inherent right of self determination and now they expect others to determine and create for them that Mickey Mouse "state" which will never be. They constantly kill and steal from each other and lie to themselves, each other and the rest of the world. They never miss any opportunity to make atrocious choices and mistakes and they are incapable of sustaining and providing for themselves; they depend on others for everything. How on earth will they ever make it?
20. The Arabs nust make very painful concessions for real peace!
Uzi ,   Haifa   (12.18.07)
The Arabs of the Land of Israel consistently demonstrate that they don't want, can't make and won't maintain real peace. They do want, however, to weaken Israel by gaining territory without 'giving' anything tangible. They ignore that "possession is nine tenths of the law" and that it's rather the Arabs who should come forward and spell out what they offer Israel in return for what they want. They also pretend not to get it that in this case "land for peace" is both immoral and unworkable. The Arabs had used the 'territories' to threaten, pester and attack Israel before we took these territories in self defence. They continue to plan, prepare and perpetrate genocide against Israel and pretend not to see that it would be suicide for Israel to concede anything in response to their threats and aggressive action. The Arabs must realize that the only way toward peace is that rather they themselves should offer, accept and be convincingly satisfied with 'painful' compromises.
21. NO to US $555 million!!
Christy ,   Boston, US   (12.18.07)
I'm against even $1 being given to the PA leadership. No money to those people who have stolen it before & never benefited the people. I'd like to US to help the ordinary people. We could offer to use the donation ($555 mil) & build the equivalent's worth of hospitals, schools, etc.. Infrastructure that can be used by the people. I'm VERY AGAINST giving $555Mil (via check or transfer) that could be used to purchase weapons to kill Jews; or money that the leadership & friends can use to get rich on. I think the Western leaders had been drinking too much French wine. What they've done is crazy!!
22. I THINK ITS FANTASTIC
USA ,   USA   (12.18.07)
after years of sufferring under the Israelis... THANK YOU WORLD> WAY TO GO> GOD BLESS. Everyone has seen what the 'jewish state" has been doing and we are so so glad the Palestiniasn are getting help. I wish also that Tibet and Dafur gets help, but since the USA has been aiding this israel state for so long and they showed their true colors, its beautiful that the Palestinians are getting help. HURRAH!!!!!
23. #10 and #14
(12.18.07)
#10......it is possible if and only if the world community starts realizing the nature and purpose of the arab mind and action towards jews and israel. cut the crap arabs. it is not about land. it is about any infetisimal jewish presence in your otherwise backwards vast area, a country you are jealous of, a country that has contributed despite no oil phenomenal gifts to humanity and a country that you'll never subjugate again to dihimitude. compared to arabs, jews are self sufficient brains and know how to build a society and an economy. wake up world community...watch the trail these billions travel and you'll find out that your gift was the biggest waste to humanity ever given. in order to build a nation you have to have people willing to build a nation. you cannot build a nation by the destruction of another people and another nation. #14. very well sid and ho, so true!
24. Donors' $ --> Palestinian leadership --> Swiss bank accounts
(12.18.07)
25. How stupid can the west be..teaching that.terror pays
Boblybo Gilobob ,   USA   (12.18.07)
26. EU wants to keep the conflict here & not there
Moshe ,   Jerusalem   (12.18.07)
This is because they are afraid of Arabs from the EU that they could start making trouble in the EU area.
27. Paying Tribute To Terrorism.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (12.18.07)
What is the famous quote, I think it was "Millions for defence, not a cent for tribute" - seems world leaders have it backwards. Islamic terrorism has successfully blackmailed the world into paying tribute & into supporting it's goals, one of which is our destruction. Just like the allies sacrificed Czechoslovakia to Hitler to appease an evil ideology, so history repeats itself. And, no doubt, with the same result. I think there are many worthwhile causes & humanitarian projects that could use this money, millions of people who are truely deserving. Maybe using $7 billion FIGHTING Islamic ideology would be money well-spent. But spineless politicians can't face the challenge - they're just not up to the daunting challenge posed by this evil ideology. They prefer to be blackmailed, to pay tribute. And it certainly doesn't hurt that the victim is the Jewish state. What really rankles though, is that our own leaders are willing to cooperate in our own demise.
28. Leaders are drunk with "demented potion" cast by PA
keziah ,   kl   (12.18.07)
Why would international aid of such magnitude and proportions be channeled to just a sect of pathetic, ungrateful and most unproductive of peoples. When Israel gave back Gaza to the PAs; they'd not only brought terrorists and guns to it, they'd pummeled down their own economy by destroying the greenhouses and with more unending fighting and violence. These world leaders should be stripped from their post as the vast sum of "aid money" could be distributed fairly throughout the world where hard core poor needs it most. This decision needs reevaluation because the aid money is definitely going to be "misused" by PA whereby they'll be setting up school cells indoctrinating their young to kill all Jews and thereby breeding millions of "jihadists" in the future. There's no sane comprehension as to why these world leaders want to "aid" PA where their main motto is death; looks like these "aid dollars" will be their death sentence in the near future.
29. Message to the Country Donors
keziah ,   KL   (12.18.07)
Please use these "aid dollars" to help the poor, the unfortunate, the sick in your own country. Build more schools, hospitals and research centers. PUT THE DOLLARS INTO SOMETHING WHERE THERE IS A POSITIVE OUTCOME!!
30. This Money Should Be Given To The Jews
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (12.18.07)
where it will be used for the benefit of all Mankind such as for science, medicine, physics, hi-tech......
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