A Line In The Sand, And Capitulating Politicians
I spotted the first story earlier this afternoon while I was waiting for Thomas to get home, and ended up getting sidetracked before I could comment on it. The report that Israel has said, "enough is enough" to the Palestinians, and the "Quartet" has capitulated comes from the AP.
Palestinian gas stations started shutting down and motorists lined up at pumps after an Israeli fuel company cut off deliveries Wednesday, deepening the humanitarian crisis following Hamas' rise to power.
An end to fuel supplies for the West Bank and Gaza could cripple hospitals, halt food deliveries and keep people home from work — a devastating scenario for an economy already ravaged by Israeli and international sanctions.
The Israeli company Dor Energy, the sole fuel provider to the Palestinians since interim peace agreements in the mid-1990s, cited growing debts for its decision, Palestinian officials said. Dor declined comment, but the company had threatened to cut off supplies twice before this year, only to be paid at the last minute by the Palestinians.
Asaf Shariv, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel would "absolutely not" bail out the Palestinians. Shariv said that since the Palestinian government resells gasoline to consumers, there is no reason for it not to have money to pay its debts.
But Palestinian officials said their cash-strapped government is one of the biggest users of gasoline and unable to pay the bill.
Mujahid Salame, head of the Palestinian petrol authority, predicted fuel supplies would run out in many areas by Thursday. "If this happens, there will be a humanitarian crisis," he said.
In Gaza City, people tried to stock up at filling stations.
"I bought more than I need because I want to guarantee that I can reach work again," said Osama Shaban, 33, a construction engineer who drives 10 miles to work each day.
Station owners said they have several days of reserves, but some limited motorists' purchases to conserve supplies.
Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, a top Health Ministry official in Gaza, warned that the area's hospitals, already suffering from a medicine shortage, would cease to function without fuel: Ambulances would stop running, employees would be unable to get to work, gas generators — used during ongoing electric outages — would be hobbled.
"It's going to be a disaster for us," he said at a Gaza City gas station, where he helped fill up several ambulances.
In the West Bank, the situation was more dire. Many stations said they were out of fuel, some laying their dry nozzles on the ground.
"The only thing I've been doing for the past day is telling drivers that I don't have any gas," said Awad Dabous, who works at a station in the town of Jenin. A sign said simply: "Sorry, no gas."
In Nablus, a line of taxi drivers said they stopped working because they had no fuel. One driver, Mahmoud Tourabi, said he would try to drive to a nearby Jewish settlement in hopes of filling his tank.
"They may kill me there, so I will be the martyr of the gas," he quipped.
The fuel crunch is the latest sign of trouble for the Palestinian economy, hit hard by a cutoff in Western aid. Donors halted the money flow in response to Hamas' victory in legislative elections, demanding the group renounce violence and recognize Israel. The U.S. and European Union, the two biggest donors, consider Hamas a terrorist group.
And anyone who disagrees is either delusional, or a shill for Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist group. It has not only targeted innocent Israelis--men, women, and children--but it has struck at targets outside of Israel, including in Europe. They are a terrorist organization under the very definition of. And of course the money flow ended; we do not fund terrorists, and neither do our allies (or they are not supposed to, but I guess we overlook ransoms paid, huh?). The money ended the moment that Hamas won. We admire (okay, sue me for the word) the fact that the Palestinians exercised "democracy" in free elections. However, we also have the right to sever ties to them, especially financial ones, when a government contrary to our beliefs is installed. It is a rule of treaties and alliances going all the way back to the days of Sunt-Tsu and Machiavelli. Governments do that.
Hamas has rejected the demands, despite a financial crisis that has left it unable to pay the salaries of thousands of government workers for two months.
Instead, it has raised some $70 million from Iran and Arab donors. But under U.S. pressure, banks refuse to transfer the funds, and the money remains stuck in an account in Egypt.
And that is where it is going to stay. Iran and the other Arab donors all endorse terrorism. Hamas would welcome this money, wholeheartedly, and then stab the Israelis in the back with it. Or, indirectly, as I believe the attack by Islamic Jihad in April was; a proxy used--"The enemy of my enemy is my ally." Despite the "competition between the rival organizations, they still share the same goal: The destruction of the Jewish State of Israel.
Compounding Hamas' woes, Israel cut off about $55 million in monthly transfers of tax it collects for the Palestinians. Israel has placed the money in escrow.
Israel dipped into this money last month to pay Palestinian bills to government-owned companies, such as the Israeli electric monopoly. The Palestinians rely on Israel for many key supplies, including fuel, electricity and water.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday that Israel would consider releasing the tax funds "for direct humanitarian needs, such as medicines, such as health needs." But the money could not go to the Palestinian Authority to pay salaries, she told Channel 10 TV.
Agreed. No one wants to see innocent people suffer, especially children. Humanitarian purposes for the money I will concur with. But then that money must go to a relief agency--one that can be trusted--to be handed out. But the money does not go to Hamas. Period.
Briefing reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate, said humanitarian aid is not enough. "It's true that there are a lot of expenses of schools and medicine, but salaries remain the basic issue," he said.
Then, just maybe, they should not have been wasting money blowing up Israelis. I am sorry if that is callous (and if you think that was, you ought to meet me in person, and I will tell you my opinion about this; it will not be nearly as pleasant) but if the true prospect of the Palestinian people was peace, they should have been preparing for it. However, as Hamas has never renounced its blood hatred for Israel, and refuses to renounce it's violent ways, I cannot understand why the Palestinian people trusted them to change their ways. Honestly, they made their bed. They can lie in it now.
Palestinian officials and the World Bank say a humanitarian disaster is looming. Palestinians have been taking out loans, cutting back and selling valuables to scrape by. But officials say the situation can't continue much longer.
Fearing catastrophe, the Quartet of Mideast peace makers — the U.S., EU, United Nations and Russia — agreed Tuesday to restore some humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, as long as the money is not handled by Hamas. But it remains unclear how much money will be coming and when, and who will administer it.
All right. It is not necessarily "capitulation." But it is a step backwards. The continued pressure was going to get to Hamas eventually. We cannot allow Hamas to stay in charge in Israel. Their continued leadership will only spawn a war there we do not want to see.
Hamas said it welcomed any aid but expressed regrets that the Quartet attached strings. Israeli officials said they had no objections to humanitarian aid reaching Palestinians, provided it is kept out of the hands of Hamas.
That is the common thread amongst the strings. No money goes into Hamas hands. We had to attach some conditions; to do so would have been completely naive and foolish. We are neither.
Olmert has said he would be willing to negotiate with Hamas if the group agrees to end its violent campaign against the Jewish state. With Hamas refusing to budge, however, Olmert says he is prepared to draw Israel's borders on his own.
And we knew this was coming. Hamas is not going to speak up, and be serious about peace. Israel wants to give the world what it has been hounded over for the last twenty years. Israel wants peace as much as the next country, however they are not willing to be bitten again. To the world, "Never again" is a nifty little catch-phrase, and fits well into speeches. To the Israelis, that is a way of life.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon on Wednesday gave Hamas until the end of the year to prove it is willing to negotiate a peace deal.
"If it becomes clear by the end of the year that we really have no partner, and the international community is also convinced of this, then we will take our fate into our own hands and not leave our fate in the hands of our enemies," he told Israel's Army radio.
Ramon, a close associate of Olmert, was the first Israeli official to set a deadline for Hamas.
I am not all that happy with the cave-in by the Big Four. But I agree that we cannot make the innocents suffer because their government is a terrorist group. We signed onto the Oil-For-Food program because we believed the money was going to ease the burden on the Iraqi people. We were wrong, but unaware until the scandal exploded (thanks to the wonderful efforts of Claudia Rossett of the Wall Street Journal). We are not ready to sign onto another UN boondoggle, and also be bitten again. We will handle the humanitarian side, as well.
As for the borders issue, Israel must do what they have to do. They will not redraw those borders to their disadvantage, and I do not see why they should. If the UN complains, take a number, styand in line, and I am sure they will address that issue when they find time. They are a sovereign nation--no different than the United States--and should not be forced by ANY NATION to bow to their enemies.
Let them redraw the borders without Hamas' help. When Hamas complains, it will likely come from the muzzle of a rifle. At that point, nothing holds Israel back from striking back.
The Bunny ;)
ADDENDUM:
This comes from Reuters today care of Little Green Footballs:
Palestinian militant group Hamas urged supporters around the world on Wednesday to send it arms, fighters and money to back its fight against arch-foe Israel. “We ask all the people in surrounding Arab countries, the Muslim world and everyone who wants to support us to send weapons, money and men,” Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said in a speech at a pro-Palestinian event in Qatar.
“You should not shy away from of this. This is resistance, not terrorism,” said Meshaal whose group — sworn to the destruction of Israel — leads the Palestinian government.
Now, would anyone care to point out where Hamas believes in peace? I must have missed that in the call for money, weapons, and men.
The Bunny ;) (Updated: 7:43 p.m. AZ. Time)
I spotted the first story earlier this afternoon while I was waiting for Thomas to get home, and ended up getting sidetracked before I could comment on it. The report that Israel has said, "enough is enough" to the Palestinians, and the "Quartet" has capitulated comes from the AP.
Palestinian gas stations started shutting down and motorists lined up at pumps after an Israeli fuel company cut off deliveries Wednesday, deepening the humanitarian crisis following Hamas' rise to power.
An end to fuel supplies for the West Bank and Gaza could cripple hospitals, halt food deliveries and keep people home from work — a devastating scenario for an economy already ravaged by Israeli and international sanctions.
The Israeli company Dor Energy, the sole fuel provider to the Palestinians since interim peace agreements in the mid-1990s, cited growing debts for its decision, Palestinian officials said. Dor declined comment, but the company had threatened to cut off supplies twice before this year, only to be paid at the last minute by the Palestinians.
Asaf Shariv, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel would "absolutely not" bail out the Palestinians. Shariv said that since the Palestinian government resells gasoline to consumers, there is no reason for it not to have money to pay its debts.
But Palestinian officials said their cash-strapped government is one of the biggest users of gasoline and unable to pay the bill.
Mujahid Salame, head of the Palestinian petrol authority, predicted fuel supplies would run out in many areas by Thursday. "If this happens, there will be a humanitarian crisis," he said.
In Gaza City, people tried to stock up at filling stations.
"I bought more than I need because I want to guarantee that I can reach work again," said Osama Shaban, 33, a construction engineer who drives 10 miles to work each day.
Station owners said they have several days of reserves, but some limited motorists' purchases to conserve supplies.
Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, a top Health Ministry official in Gaza, warned that the area's hospitals, already suffering from a medicine shortage, would cease to function without fuel: Ambulances would stop running, employees would be unable to get to work, gas generators — used during ongoing electric outages — would be hobbled.
"It's going to be a disaster for us," he said at a Gaza City gas station, where he helped fill up several ambulances.
In the West Bank, the situation was more dire. Many stations said they were out of fuel, some laying their dry nozzles on the ground.
"The only thing I've been doing for the past day is telling drivers that I don't have any gas," said Awad Dabous, who works at a station in the town of Jenin. A sign said simply: "Sorry, no gas."
In Nablus, a line of taxi drivers said they stopped working because they had no fuel. One driver, Mahmoud Tourabi, said he would try to drive to a nearby Jewish settlement in hopes of filling his tank.
"They may kill me there, so I will be the martyr of the gas," he quipped.
The fuel crunch is the latest sign of trouble for the Palestinian economy, hit hard by a cutoff in Western aid. Donors halted the money flow in response to Hamas' victory in legislative elections, demanding the group renounce violence and recognize Israel. The U.S. and European Union, the two biggest donors, consider Hamas a terrorist group.
And anyone who disagrees is either delusional, or a shill for Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist group. It has not only targeted innocent Israelis--men, women, and children--but it has struck at targets outside of Israel, including in Europe. They are a terrorist organization under the very definition of. And of course the money flow ended; we do not fund terrorists, and neither do our allies (or they are not supposed to, but I guess we overlook ransoms paid, huh?). The money ended the moment that Hamas won. We admire (okay, sue me for the word) the fact that the Palestinians exercised "democracy" in free elections. However, we also have the right to sever ties to them, especially financial ones, when a government contrary to our beliefs is installed. It is a rule of treaties and alliances going all the way back to the days of Sunt-Tsu and Machiavelli. Governments do that.
Hamas has rejected the demands, despite a financial crisis that has left it unable to pay the salaries of thousands of government workers for two months.
Instead, it has raised some $70 million from Iran and Arab donors. But under U.S. pressure, banks refuse to transfer the funds, and the money remains stuck in an account in Egypt.
And that is where it is going to stay. Iran and the other Arab donors all endorse terrorism. Hamas would welcome this money, wholeheartedly, and then stab the Israelis in the back with it. Or, indirectly, as I believe the attack by Islamic Jihad in April was; a proxy used--"The enemy of my enemy is my ally." Despite the "competition between the rival organizations, they still share the same goal: The destruction of the Jewish State of Israel.
Compounding Hamas' woes, Israel cut off about $55 million in monthly transfers of tax it collects for the Palestinians. Israel has placed the money in escrow.
Israel dipped into this money last month to pay Palestinian bills to government-owned companies, such as the Israeli electric monopoly. The Palestinians rely on Israel for many key supplies, including fuel, electricity and water.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday that Israel would consider releasing the tax funds "for direct humanitarian needs, such as medicines, such as health needs." But the money could not go to the Palestinian Authority to pay salaries, she told Channel 10 TV.
Agreed. No one wants to see innocent people suffer, especially children. Humanitarian purposes for the money I will concur with. But then that money must go to a relief agency--one that can be trusted--to be handed out. But the money does not go to Hamas. Period.
Briefing reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate, said humanitarian aid is not enough. "It's true that there are a lot of expenses of schools and medicine, but salaries remain the basic issue," he said.
Then, just maybe, they should not have been wasting money blowing up Israelis. I am sorry if that is callous (and if you think that was, you ought to meet me in person, and I will tell you my opinion about this; it will not be nearly as pleasant) but if the true prospect of the Palestinian people was peace, they should have been preparing for it. However, as Hamas has never renounced its blood hatred for Israel, and refuses to renounce it's violent ways, I cannot understand why the Palestinian people trusted them to change their ways. Honestly, they made their bed. They can lie in it now.
Palestinian officials and the World Bank say a humanitarian disaster is looming. Palestinians have been taking out loans, cutting back and selling valuables to scrape by. But officials say the situation can't continue much longer.
Fearing catastrophe, the Quartet of Mideast peace makers — the U.S., EU, United Nations and Russia — agreed Tuesday to restore some humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, as long as the money is not handled by Hamas. But it remains unclear how much money will be coming and when, and who will administer it.
All right. It is not necessarily "capitulation." But it is a step backwards. The continued pressure was going to get to Hamas eventually. We cannot allow Hamas to stay in charge in Israel. Their continued leadership will only spawn a war there we do not want to see.
Hamas said it welcomed any aid but expressed regrets that the Quartet attached strings. Israeli officials said they had no objections to humanitarian aid reaching Palestinians, provided it is kept out of the hands of Hamas.
That is the common thread amongst the strings. No money goes into Hamas hands. We had to attach some conditions; to do so would have been completely naive and foolish. We are neither.
Olmert has said he would be willing to negotiate with Hamas if the group agrees to end its violent campaign against the Jewish state. With Hamas refusing to budge, however, Olmert says he is prepared to draw Israel's borders on his own.
And we knew this was coming. Hamas is not going to speak up, and be serious about peace. Israel wants to give the world what it has been hounded over for the last twenty years. Israel wants peace as much as the next country, however they are not willing to be bitten again. To the world, "Never again" is a nifty little catch-phrase, and fits well into speeches. To the Israelis, that is a way of life.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon on Wednesday gave Hamas until the end of the year to prove it is willing to negotiate a peace deal.
"If it becomes clear by the end of the year that we really have no partner, and the international community is also convinced of this, then we will take our fate into our own hands and not leave our fate in the hands of our enemies," he told Israel's Army radio.
Ramon, a close associate of Olmert, was the first Israeli official to set a deadline for Hamas.
I am not all that happy with the cave-in by the Big Four. But I agree that we cannot make the innocents suffer because their government is a terrorist group. We signed onto the Oil-For-Food program because we believed the money was going to ease the burden on the Iraqi people. We were wrong, but unaware until the scandal exploded (thanks to the wonderful efforts of Claudia Rossett of the Wall Street Journal). We are not ready to sign onto another UN boondoggle, and also be bitten again. We will handle the humanitarian side, as well.
As for the borders issue, Israel must do what they have to do. They will not redraw those borders to their disadvantage, and I do not see why they should. If the UN complains, take a number, styand in line, and I am sure they will address that issue when they find time. They are a sovereign nation--no different than the United States--and should not be forced by ANY NATION to bow to their enemies.
Let them redraw the borders without Hamas' help. When Hamas complains, it will likely come from the muzzle of a rifle. At that point, nothing holds Israel back from striking back.
The Bunny ;)
ADDENDUM:
This comes from Reuters today care of Little Green Footballs:
Palestinian militant group Hamas urged supporters around the world on Wednesday to send it arms, fighters and money to back its fight against arch-foe Israel. “We ask all the people in surrounding Arab countries, the Muslim world and everyone who wants to support us to send weapons, money and men,” Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said in a speech at a pro-Palestinian event in Qatar.
“You should not shy away from of this. This is resistance, not terrorism,” said Meshaal whose group — sworn to the destruction of Israel — leads the Palestinian government.
Now, would anyone care to point out where Hamas believes in peace? I must have missed that in the call for money, weapons, and men.
The Bunny ;) (Updated: 7:43 p.m. AZ. Time)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 6:17 PM
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