i feel sorry for my arab brothers and sisters. all these billions of dollars and NOTHING! no viable economy or no economy or growth at all no research into modernization, into science, into mathematics, physics and medicine sub standard medical care that doesn't even exist for all arabs and no medical up to date training at all no research conferences in science and technology no computers for any household except a few education based on hate, backwardsness and fanatical thinking and primitive ideas no gifts given to the world, to the future at all in any field repression of new ideas to modernize the masses exists in all forms of life and government lack of education, lack of inventions, lack of forward thinking and lack of motivation to suceed in anything governed by hate, by intolerance, by fear, by schitzophrenic regimes, by oppressive terror and primitive legal systems stagnant or non existent economy that has not moved past the 12th century and beyond violence of masses blinded by hate and religious fervor not a single prize in any field in humanities or the sciences money spent on defense, but defense of and against whom???? maybe against each other since my arab brothers know how to kill each other all the time rule by lying, opression and terror inside each arab country and in iran what can i say. i had to leave iran and syria and live in the real world to see how our "enemies" live. believe me,. our "enemies" live civilized modern lives which arabs are jealous of but can never attain. this is why they hate modernization and the west. we feel inferior because WE ARE INFERIOR! hameed abugaze los angeles

will surely be very pleased to learn this. Iran's economy is tanking, the price of oil just isn't what it used to be and unemployment in Iran is approaching 30%.

gossip columns more than before. I still think you have descent articles but this ain't one of them. You call "business research facility" a source for credible news?!!! Who know?!!! What the hell is Info-Prod Research Ltd?!!!! Where do you come up with this obscure stuff?!!! Do you expect intelligent people to take the gossips put out in the form of a "report" by two obscure Jews as credible information?!!! I bet soon you're going to publish an article by Bernie Madoff who is going to give us extensive information about how the stock markets should be run!!! Pleeeeeeease!

To Nazrallah and his brethren, yes,you're richer than I'm,but I have peace and freedom,I can go wherever I want to go,but you can't.You may disguise yourself,but that's not freedom. I'm just a plain housewife, but I can go shopping without security guard. But you,you can't enjoy yourself even though you're a billionaire or zillionaire or something.Sorry Nazrallah or other terrorist leaders,to me you're just a pauper.

if the oil dried up? I heard it's beneath their dignity to do dirty jobs that's why they're hiring workers from the Third World countries.

If you are, they need a leader just like you, especially leading the Palestinians to succeed in life.You might as well tell the people in Iraq and Afghanistan not to kill US troops who want to help them. But I do believe that not all Arabs agree with their government leaders though.If they voice out what's in their mind,they and their families will be in danger.

# 1 Mr Abugaze ! You are very courageous,and open minded.Unfortunately,you are whistling in the dark,in the Arab world,to fight an enemy,real,or imagined,is more important,than to feed the family,the Arabs are still governed by the law of the desert.Revenge,family honor,are the strongest driving force in the Muslim world,if an Arab kills his daughter,for saying "Hy"to the mailman,he is greatly honored by society.Nuclear weapons in the hands of Pakistan and Iran ,is placing humanity,and all living species,in great danger. Iran and Alkeda -Pakistan,will destroy this planet,just to settle an account with Israel,and the American great Satan.The Iraki-Iran war started,because Iran tried to kill Tarik Aziz, Sadam Husein's good friend.This little revenge,caused about 1 Million,dead and wounded on both sides.Nuclear weapons under control of fanaticos,is very scary.

that is wonderful news, 1 billion dollars only? hmmm, where do they put the money, in Bank Leumi?! balony

I've been to Israel many times, but when I walk around in Old Jerusalem I still make mistakes trying to tell who is Jewish and who is Arabic. "That guy looks Arabic" I say with hope I get it right this time to my best friend. "Are you kidding me, he is Jewish" he replies. Fact of the matter, we are all created equal and we are equal, Jews and Arabs. So why do we see so much hate in Arabic media and in the streets (and among religious Jewish fanatics)? Arabs and Jews should be focusing on one thing, and one thing only - creating a better future for ourselves and our families. When Iran or Qatar spend billions of dollars supporting Hizbullah, they still from THEIR people, THEIR FAMILIES. That money does NOT improve lives of ordinary Iranians and Qataris. As a Jew, I feel really, really bad for these people. Shame on their corrupt, oppressive governments. Why aren't there more Arabs like you in the world??

yes, i am an arab!!!!!! there are arabs who feel exactlylike myself. but, the regimes do not alow our opinions to be voiced and heard. after eons of indoctrinating the masses, is it any wonder these regimes survive? what you don't understand about arabs is that their auticratic despotic and barbarian regimes stay in power precisely because the masses are illiterate, religious and fanatical. those leaders use the masses and their masses' support to continue repression and domination without any fair election and any advancement. if they let the people advance and educate themselves and if they allow free press and the outside influences from the west to come into these arab countries in the form of free speech and democracy, these regimes won't last a day. so, these arab barbarian rulers keep the people like a mushroom in the dark, feed it bullshit and so, continue to rule for centuries on the back of the poor and stupid arabs. i am ashamed of my people. but i blame each and every regime. the biggest waste is the iranian people who are not arab, but muslim. they are smarter but are not allowed to flourish and be free. i have nothing against the jewish peole. i think arabs and muslims should watch very carefully how jews built a democracy in the most violent despotic societies of the world. no matter the many obstacles, terror and wars the arab regimes inflicted on the jewish in israel, it managed to buld a modern, vibrant, educated, economically viable and a powerhouse of minds and technology even through wars and hate coming from all directions. even though i am an arab, i do not hate and i see truth fro what it is. it is indeed admirable what tghe jews did after the holocaust. amazing. instead of hating and feeling jealous of the jews, we must learn from them by example. hameed abugaze los angeles

When Iran or Qatar support the Hezbollah financially and otherwise, they are helping the underdog. On the other hand when the US sends YOUR tax money to Israel so more settlements can be built, it means the US government is stealing your money and to help the aggressors and the occupiers. Think about it. The Hezbollah has not claimed a single square inch of Israel. All they did was to expel the IDF which was occupying Lebanon for 20 years. Once Israel was defeated and kicked out, the Hezb stayed in the homes.

so, if the hizbullah stayed in their homes, as you say, what were they doing inside israeli territory kidnapping a jew? my brother, you are messed up in the head with hate and jealousy for the jewish people. how many times i must tell you as an arab, that the israelis are there to stay and survive and no matter how many armies or terror groupd come on the scene, israel will not disappear. this is the arab dream which is not based on any reality. time in not and has never been on our side. we arabs made so many mistakes and wasted so much money on hate and terror. and for what? did anything change for us? are our countries better economically? our countries better security wise when each arab country hates the other and competes for to be the leader? are we better educationally, scientifically, politically, democratically, militaristically or financially? NO! we are still living in the past with all our backwardsness and hate and vengeance. what for? if israel could advance so much even through all our wars which we never ever won, why can't we do the same? why are we almost 40% illiterate in each of our arab countries? the person who responded to you is right. this billion dollars better go to the real victims, yes, the victims, who are the arab population that is constantly being victimized by their own people and by their own leaders. this is the truth, not what you want to see or what you dream of seeing. you are delusional. israel was never defeated in lebanon. this is your arab pride talking. illusions. israel elft when the plo was finally finished. believe me, they helped the lebanese christians from being slaughtered by fanatics like you while your muslim brothers in lebanon killed thousands of christian civilians in south lebanon, israel took them in and treated them in their hospitals. know the history and do not lie. israel was never defeated. anytime israel walks out and withdraws this doesn't mean defeat, only in arab eyes which are too proud to admit defeat. israel came into lebanon because they were ASKED TO COME IN. because the muslims were killing christians and the plo was active in lebanon doing terrorism on israel. so, israel entered. i would go in too. and when i finished the job, i would leave too. but this doesn't mean israel lost.

i answered you talkback but forgot to sign my name....hameed abugaze

aparently hizbullah didn't stay home because they ventured inside israel illegally and kidnapped a jewish boy, a soldier. they did this on our territory, not lebanese territory. how is that "staying home"?

I don't think Bandar would appreciate that reference. He thinks Hezbollah rules the roost and is the powerful almighty. Iran pays its proxy well to do its dirty work. But how is it that Iran has money to fund Hamas and Hezbollah while Iran's economy tanks and we hear so much about Iran's economic instability? Iranians can't afford housing or basic necessities and workers go unpaid while the Islamic Regime funds this Hezbullah militia.

I hope and pray that the good sensible people of the world beat the pathetic, un-educated war mongrels amongst us Go Hameed - im with you 100% of the way

Is it as much as she is sending to Hamas (300 million)?

#13 Persian CAT : fact: hizballah infiltrated into Israel killed Israeli soldiers in Israel . This provocation was followed by hiz firing thousands of UNguided rockets at Israeli civilian cities. hiz "cleverly" presents NO military targets. so Israel retailiated at other targets: 1. to destroy larger, powerful UNguided rockets in Beruit, and hiz facilities Bekka valley. 2. hiz headquarters + hiz supporters in South Beruit. 3. IMPORTANT for Lebanon's future: Further hiz attacks on Israel can boomerang ...into total destruction of Lebanon ... ALL military headquarters and military bases... ALL power, oil storage, electricity, dams, airports, bridges, roads, port facilities,... what-have-you. Now hiz must be very, very careful not to even PROVOKE an aroused, angry Israel ! moshe

Instead of giving billions of dollars to Hezbollah wouldn't the money be better spent on helping the people in Gaza to rebuild their homes,buy food,pay salaries,or used for the people of Iran who are also having money troubles, or the starving people of Dafur,or Yemen? Why is it the Terrorist organizations spend billions on weapons yet neglect the needs of their own Muslim brothern suffering from hunger and homelessness?

and eventually it will buy peace in the middle east as well. And when the oil dries up Maria the entire world will be dried up as well..And this is a good thing because the superpowers will no longer be superpowers and everyone will have no choice but to live side by side in Peace...Go Green

Rather than reading talk-back on subject irrelevant to the the article let us dwell on what will be the new inventory for Hizbillah's?Some more powerful weapons,yah?

$ for terror is the worst investment any of you can make. This $1B will also go the way of the too many Billions which were used to fatten the a$$es of arch-terrorists like Arafak, Mughnyie, Rantissi, Hayniyeh, Nasrallah and the Syrian drug lords. They will vaporize as soon as the first Fuel-Air bombs will start falling on the Hezbollah rat holes in Lebanon. If these hateful and thabkfully stupid Arab tycoons thought that these "donations" will save them from the Economic crisis, they are wrong. The 30% money markets fall is nothing compared to the 100% evaporation of this $1B+. Also they can say byebye to the $4.4B in Gaza aid. IAF and IDF is never going out of quality targets. Keep on building for war and you'll get the destruction and misery you all deserve!

he never even brought up a hizbollah investment...and here i got my butt handed to me in the market

I assure you Ahmad, Hezbollah will not invest this money with Madof. They dont trust Zionist Jews!

hameed, you say: "instead of hating and feeling jealous of the jews, we must learn from them by example", and I say you are pathetic. Why not o try to sell your crap to the thousands upon thousands of Palestiian widows, orphans and permanently disfigured. Try to look them in the eye while recounting your filth. You are not an Arab, you are a JARAB. There is always a rotten apple at the bottom of the sack. Hameed you are this rotten apple!

You see what a misguided fool you are? 90% of casualties on the Lebanese side in 2006 were civilians while 90% of the casualties on the Israeli ide were military! You really do sound stupid when you say: "hiz firing thousands of UNguided rockets at Israeli civilian cities."

At least Investing with Hezbollah is safer than investng with Madoff! Wait a minute, but Madoff is Jewish, hmmm

We Jews, and others in western society, are relieved to hear from an Arab (Muslim?) who is sanely critical of the various destructive Arab Muslim regimesand political movements. With you, we Jews could have dialogue. I am just finishing a literate and instructive book entitled "Chasing A Mirage: The Tragic Illusion Of An Islamic State" by Tarek Fatah, a Canadian Muslim of Pakistanian origin who founded the Muslim Canadian Cogress in the aftermath of 9/11 but then had to step down after being threatened by extremists residing in Canada. In the book, he describes the continual destructive civil wars engaged in by Muslims even during the socalled "Golden Age" after the death of The Prophet. He details the political and religious perspectives of the Muslim world since its foundation and puts many holes in the "taken for granted" truisms regarding many aspects of the religion such as Sharia law and the real teachings of Mohammed including the fact that The Prophet never advocated for an Islamic state (political entity) but did advocate for a state of (spiritual) Islam. The author pointed out how lofty was the Islamic civilization which rose in Spain when it was multicultural and fairly included both Christians and Jews. We are simply not used to Muslims speaking out in an intelligent, critical and fairminded way and, as a result, assume that no such Muslim creature exists. So thank you for breaking the assumption. I wish more Muslims like you would speak out!