Jacob Walles, the US consul-general in Jerusalem, said that Washington would not continue to deliver its $368 million (£208 million) annual direct aid to what it has officially labelled a terrorist organisation.
“I don’t see how we would do that if those ministries were controlled by Hamas,” he said.
[...]
WHO GIVES WHAT
# The Palestinian Authority (PA) was allocated $1.1 billion (£647 million) last year by international donors, a rise of 20 per cent on 2004
# Arab League countries pledged $197 million, down from $388 million in 2001
# At Gleneagles in July the G8 committed itself to raising $3 billion for the Palestinians over each of the next three years
# Humanitarian aid is handled by UN agencies, projects by donor countries and support for wages and running costs through a trust administered by the World Bank
# The leading donors are:
US $368 million
EU $338 million
Britain $43 million
Italy $40 million
Sweden $32 million
Germany $27 million
Spain $17 million
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-2013607,00.html
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on January 30, 2006]
Note: http://www.timesonline....
Hamas - Show Restraint Or Lose Aid Money
Posted on Monday, January 30 at 09:43 by AnonymousContributed By
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday as she tried to persuade other countries to cut off assistance to a government led by Hamas.
"Everybody is saying exactly the same thing," Rice said amid meetings with other diplomats on Hamas' startling election victory last week and its impact on Middle East peacemaking efforts.
"There has got to be a peaceful road ahead. ... You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable."<
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Aid comes at a price. Free election or not.
Damn straight. Why should my taxes go to buy some brainwashed extremist a bomb vest so he can blow himself up in a pizza parlour, or for his bullets to fire into the air during an election night celebration. Just because a government is democratically elected - it doesn't mean we have to agree with everything they pursue (the French gov't that bombed GreenPeace was democratically elected). And we especially don't need to continue to provide aid to a gov't openly hostile, and indeed suggests the annihilation of a nation. I don't care if the are an open dictatorship or were freely elected with 99.9% of the population.
I'm sure, your position would be for Harper to continue Canadian aid (some $215m) despite Hamas's victory in last week's election. The DFAIT crats over at the Pearson Bldg are no doubt busy writing briefs to argue the very same thing (i.e. if we are nice to terrorists and give them money, maybe they will put on hold thier plans to destroy Isreal). Maybe they're right? But suggesting, that we have no right to debate or even think twice, about the consequences of the aid we send is ridiculous.
Just what makes you so sure? I am against foreign aid, but if it's given, then no strings attached. Canadians don't have to, nor can afford, to pay for other countries political problems. We still give China monetary aid. Why?
If people need food, then use the red cross. The aid rarely goes to those who need it otherwise. It's the Americans who are trying to buy democracy, not me. And you think they should!
Well I guess that's one approach. Just cut cheques and don't worry about where the money goes. In fact, not only shouldn't we worry, but we shouldn't be allowed to worry. My guess is that won't happen. There's probably a solution to provide aid through NGO's etc. But it won't be all or nothing. Nevertheless I understand your view esp considering you just recently learned the PA was receiving aid at all. The aid btw is not just for food, it takes millions of dollars to pay for the bureaucracy and security services as well.
<<It's the Americans who are trying to buy democracy, not me. And you think they should!>>
Although I realize slamming the US at every oppertunity is a common theme in here I'm sorry to burst your bubble. We, along with the Europeans and Japan are also asking relevant questions (or "trying to buy democracy" as you say). In fact, of all the numerous donor nations, it seems only the Arab/Gulf states are suggesting the aid should continue to flow without some softening of the Hamas charter. Quel surprise!!!
None at all!