U.S. to PA: Pay us back USD 50 million

[Moledet]

Americans ask Palestinian Authority to pay back funds received from U.S. in bid to ensure money does not reach Hamas; Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas complies with request, State Department says
Yitzhak Benhorin


WASHINGTON – Making the Palestinians pay: The United States asked the Palestinian Authority to pay back USD 50 million transferred to the PA earlier in order to ensure the money does not reach Hamas once the new Palestinian government is sworn in, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.

According to McCormack, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas complied with the request.


Speaking at a daily briefing, McCormack said the money was initially transferred to the PA in order to finance various projects.


U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is scheduled to head on a Middle East tour Monday that will include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Gulf countries, made it clear in recent days the Administration is reviewing American assistance to the Palestinian Authority in the wake of Hamas' recent election win.


In practical terms, the U.S. has already decided to curb all investments in infrastructure development projects in Gaza, as well as health and employment ventures. The Americans are expected to continue examining their aid to the Palestinians over the next few weeks before making more decisions on the matter.


The Americans are also looking into ways to continue offering humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians through the United Nations and non-profit organizations while ensuring the money does not end up in the hands of Hamas or is used by the terror group to win sympathy among the Palestinians.

I wish Olmert had this set of balls.

[LaoSexMachine]

Over the past decade, the United States has given about $1.5 billion in aid to the Palestinians. Most of that was channeled via nongovernmental organisations.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/22270CF5-6115-4F7C-8BF8-88A1B2262609.htm

I wonder how much their fellows Muslims gave them for humanitarian purposes? Who says America doesn't care about the Palestinians.

[SeanAshi]

Moledet who are you going to vote for in the upcoming elections?

[Laworkerbee]

Israel - One bus away from Heaven

Dark and Funny Moledet

[Greek soldier]

Pay us back USD 50 million

"We have a lack of liquidity. Can we make a compromise??"

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

I have a feeling that Hamas will better manage the funds than the last lot of crooks.

[usm2b]

Yeah...I'm sure Hamas will put that money to good use. Perhaps they can find a cure for cancer... or put it towards global warming research.

[S'13]

I have a feeling that Hamas will better manage the funds than the last lot of crooks.

You are right! And you know what's the best thing about this? It'll leave more money to pay suicied bombers famalies, buy weapons/explosives and develop better types of Kassam rockets. :roll:

[budgie]

I have to agree with this move: No point in letting Hamas keep funds that were granted to a more responsible group. We can't be sure that some of the money won't be funneled into terror. Hamas has to prove it can play with the grown-ups first.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Hang on a minute.

Arafats group were/are just as bad as Hamas. They used to hijack planes/suicide bomb jews ect. Hell they done it outside of Palistine.

And if you really compared Hamas to the PLO. Which group done more for the Palistinian cause?

Hamas may be carrying out a terrorist war with Israel but they atleast provide services to the Palistinian people. One thing the PLO never did.

[veritas]

maybe hamas has turned a corner, they have realized there is more money in running a govt than blowing stuff up...you never know.

[MakeWar87]

Not really since they just rejected claims to moderate by palestinians this morning.

[veritas]

Not really since they just rejected claims to moderate by palestinians this morning.

i'm sure they were teasing, terrorist are known for there dry sense of humor.

[BlackRain]

Either Hamas has to come with another source of income or the Palestinians will starve. The West is going to shut off the gravy train.


For several months, the Palestinian government has been unable to meet its $116-million monthly payroll.

American officials here are reviewing projects throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which last year received $275 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development. That included $50 million in direct aid, which the U.S. has now asked the Palestinian Authority to return.

Direct aid to the Palestinian Authority was barred by U.S. law in 1997 to safeguard against it being siphoned off by corrupt leaders.

Instead, with rare exceptions, American aid is provided indirectly through contractors and nonprofit groups that carry out a variety of projects, from building sewers and roads to mentoring Palestinian youths and fostering democratic institutions.

[Snoshi]

Yes, thank you USA

[MakeWar87]

I dont think the u.s will cut off all funding but Im sure all funding that they do send is going through the un

[americanbychoice]

maybe hamas has turned a corner, they have realized there is more money in running a govt than blowing stuff up...you never know.

The burden of proof is on Hamas because we hold the purse-strings.

Hamas won't even acknowledge the legitimacy of the state of Israel. Until they can make that one simple step, it's hard to believe that they have "turned the corner".

Even AFTER they make that step, the proof will be on the ground & in the "Arab street". Look at what Fatah/the PLO did for Israel & America. Arafat talked big talk, and for that he was given the dirty Nobel Peace Prize for talking out of his ass, but what did he do except steal money & blame the Jews?

EDIT:
Looks like Abbas still isn't gone yet, and he's giving back the money.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/18/hamas.abbas/index.html

he Palestinian Authority said that it will be returning $50 million in aid to the United States, Abbas' office confirmed on Saturday.

The United States wants the money back because it doesn't want it to fall into the hands of the militant group Hamas, the winner of last month's Palestinian parliamentary election and considered a terror organization by the United States, Israel and the European Union .

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack spoke about the return of the money at his daily press briefing on Friday.

He said the money was being returned "in the interest of seeing that these funds not potentially make their way into the coffers of a future Palestinian government that might not recognize the right of Israel to exist" or that may not meet previously agreed-upon peace process obligations.

[Corona]

Maybe there's hope after all. Wait, I can't believe I just said that. Never mind.

[deagle]

i don't thnk we'll be seeing any of that money