U.S. Senate passes resolution threatening to suspend aid to Palestinians

U.S. Senate passes resolution threatening to suspend aid to Palestinians

[url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-senate-passes-resolution-threatening-to-suspend-aid-to-palestinians-1.370341]www.haaretz.com[/u rl]

The United States Senate has passed a resolution threatening to suspend financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority if its leaders "persist in efforts to circumvent direct negotiations by turning to the United Nations or other international bodies,” and called on U.S. President Barack Obama to veto a UN vote on unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I just don't understand. Obviously peace talks aren't working. They haven't worked for 60 + years. Now is the time to put up or shut up, we can't wait forever for 2 leaders to make peace. The people want it, the leaders don't.

It's just so incredible to me. We're going to suspend foreign aid to the Palestinians because they want to seek statehood. But we won't suspend foreign aid to Israel after we repeatedly call on them to stop settlement construction.

It's funny, we offer the Israelis 20 free f-35's in exchange for another 6 month settlement freeze so we can negotiate peace, and they decline the offer. That was that. Now after deadlock negotiations, and nothing for the Palestinians to do anymore except for unilaterally seek statehood, we stab them right in the back after Obama gave them hope for September. It's just incredible...

Why the heck are my politicians so *vajayjay* when it comes to dealing with Israel? Why do we baby them and hold their hands?

Shananagans!

*edit: What the heck is up with the links? They never work anymore
www.haaretz.com...

Originally posted by BiGGz
Why the heck are my politicians so *vajayjay* when it comes to dealing with Israel? Why do we baby them and hold their hands?

AIPAC power + religious nuts waiting for Jesus.

This is such a delicate issue so, I am certainly not going to get into any "anti" this or that rhetoric.

The problem with any financial aid to Palestine is the lack of accountability for the money or goods once they arrive. Who's getting the aid and above all who's deciding who gets it or not. People often forget about the constant struggle for power between Hamas and Fatah. Who pays the price for this strife?? Yes the innocent civilians who are the victims of their myopic leadership. No surprise there.

Hamas is known to keep a heavy thumb on Fatah members in Gaza and vice versa with Fatah oppressing Hamas in the West Bank. These two forces signed a reconciliation agreement back in May and you'd never know it. Nor will you ever know in the future. The bad blood runs too deep. Just as deep as the financial aid that feeds it!! on both sides.

Furthermore, evidence suggests that foreign aid money is being paid directly to alleged Arab terrorists who are currently sitting in Israeli prisons.

A law published in the official Palestinian Authority Registry last month grants all Palestinians and Israeli Arabs imprisoned in Israel for terror crimes a monthly salary from the PA. The Arabic word the PA uses for this payment is "ratib," meaning "salary."

The PA has reported that the US, the EU, France, Britain, Ireland, Norway, Japan, India and the World Bank have all given money to the PA for its general budget in 2010-2011.

Such direct funding could be part of the "available sources" for terrorist salaries, or could free money elsewhere in the PA budget that could be used for these salaries

www.examiner.com...

If there is ever going to be a change for the good in that region you must cut off all foreign money that is being used to fuel fight. Just like cutting off an adult child who eats your food and refuses to move out of your basement while never paying a dime for room and board.

reply to post by jibeho


Well you're looking at it from:

If we give Fatah money, it will find it's way to Hamas somehow, and that will help buy more weapons.

But what you forget and don't realize is, we give 10 fold more military aid to Israel to produce nuclear and kinetic weapons. What are weapons and bullets used for? Not to sign peace treaties. It goes both ways. Either way, some of the aid is used for humanitarian things like building schools and homes. This bill will freeze that aid too.

But that's not the reason why they're freezing the aid. They're not freezing it because of Hamas, so that's not even the issue, it's irrelevant. They are freezing the aid to pressure the Palestinians to not seek recognition, hence the topic. This is about who's filling the pockets of our politicians. And we, the taxpayers are broke, so they don't care about the overall opinion of the American people.

Originally posted by blackcube
AIPAC

It's just funny it was passed before I even knew what it was


As for the PA sending commissary to their POW's, wouldn't you expect JFK to send commissary to the Vietnam POW's? Gotta have your Ramen noodles...

So Palestine wants aid from us but doesn't want to negotiate and go around us through the U.N.

Do you think that should be acceptable? If they aren't up to something than why won't they negotiate with us directly?

I think America has every right to be upset if they are sending them aid for negotiations then Palestine takes the money and does an end around and tries to work out a deal with someone else.

Cut all foreign aid to everybody, the un also.

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
Cut all foreign aid to everybody, the un also.

Problem solved.

Originally posted by kro32
So Palestine wants aid from us but doesn't want to negotiate and go around us through the U.N.

So Israel wants aid from us but doesn't want to negotiate. We'll still give them aid though

Originally posted by kro32
Do you think that should be acceptable? If they aren't up to something than why won't they negotiate with us directly?

Settlements. I thought you knew that. That's why the last peace talks broke down. Israel refused to stop settlement activity in the West Bank, the future home of Palestine. Pretty conniving right? Even offered them 20 free f-35's with their pending order of 20 f-35's FOR FREE, billion dollar deal. Still couldn't extend the freeze.

Originally posted by kro32
I think America has every right to be upset if they are sending them aid for negotiations then Palestine takes the money and does an end around and tries to work out a deal with someone else.

2 billion in foreign aid to Israel, and they can't lengthen a settlement freeze or make a single concession. With radical religious lunatics like Hamas and Zionists, it's all or nothing.

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
Cut all foreign aid to everybody, the un also.

Best idea that's been brought up by far. Star!!

Pressure both sides into negotiations, not just one.

Originally posted by BiGGz
the West Bank, the future home of Palestine.

The future home of "Palestine" is back in Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, where these people originally came from. West Bank and Gaza = ISRAEL. End the Arab occupation now.

Well I'd have no problem with this in theory as long as they didn't try to say humanitarian aid organisations were committing a crime by delivering aid to Palestine and also if they cut the billions to Israel. Put it this way, both sides aren't going to agree on any sort of peace deal unless they are pressured into it, the only way they're going to be pressured into it is financially.

Originally posted by dingdong101
The future home of "Palestine" is back in Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, where these people originally came from. West Bank and Gaza = ISRAEL. End the Arab occupation now.

How do you figure the Palestinians should go to 3rd party nations when there home was in Israel (Palestine) before the State of Israel was even established?

reply to post by lifeissacred


Agree'd, the only way to stop this is to pressure both sides. We've gotta dish out a little tough love from time to time.