“We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.” — From the transcript of President Bush’s address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday night, September 20, 2001.
Who is the President with? Is he starving terrorists of funding or are his terrorist funding activities leading other nations to do the same? “Further Erosion of PA Boycott as PLO Account Set Up as Loophole,” by Ezra HaLevi for INN:
Holland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates have all decided to renew funding to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. The countries are following the lead of the United States, which authorized funding of the Fatah faction in the PA through a PLO account set up by Fatah official Salem Fayyad.
US President George W. Bush announced Friday that he intends to deposit $18.8 million into the new PLO account set up by Fayyad — ostensibly to help Fatah fight Hamas. Hamas is not technically a member of the PLO.
A May 14 letter from the US to the European Union authorized the deposit of funds in Fayyad’s PLO account — a move seen by many as effectively ending the international boycott of the PA in place since the PA public voted the internationally recognized terrorist organization Hamas into power.
The White House recently gave Fatah $59 million for training and weapons for armed groups controlled by Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas later claimed it had intercepted weapons purchased with the money.
One of the recipients of such training, Khaled Shawish, was arrested by Israeli security forces last month for scores of shooting attacks on Israeli civilians he oversaw — including the murder of Binyamin Ze”ev and Talia Kahane.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry announced Saturday that it will be dispatching a “special grant” of 6.3 million euros ($8.4 million) to the PA in the coming months. Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen insisted that the funding is “also in Israel’s best interests” as the money would improve the humanitarian situation for 17,000 armed men and their families.
The United Arab Emirates have also shown their support to the PA, transferring $80 million in aid to the PLO, of which Hamas is not a member of and therefore does not violate US anti-terror laws.
In recent weeks, Qatar gave $44 million, Norway gave $10 million and Saudi Arabia donated $50 million to the PA.
Japan is also considering renewing direct funding of the PA. It has donated about $900 million to the PA since 1993.
The European Union is also planning to resume funding of the PA, with external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner saying that, “Hopefully at the next council we will be able to take a decision.” That meeting is scheduled for June 18. The plan is to supply $30 million a month to the PA.
According to my calculations, the President’s question is a non-starter. “Us” and the terrorists are one and the same.
Crossposted from The American Israeli Patriot.