The economic plan to help the “Palestinians” that was unveiled in Bahrain was staggering in its size. More than $50 billion dollars was to be given as aid to the “Palestinians” in the West Bank, Gaza, and in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. If this plan were adopted, it would be the largest aid package for a single recipient — the soi-disant ‘‘Palestinian people” — in history. By contrast, under the Marshall Plan, $120 billion was divided among 16 recipient nations.
What’s more, to receive this gigantic sum, the “Palestinians” were not required to make any political concessions, but of course the hope was that prosperity would be followed by a readiness to drop maximalist territorial demands. Receipt of the money was not dependent on specific undertakings by the “Palestinians”: they could continue to demand Jerusalem as their “eternal capital,” continue to insist that all Israelis leave the West Bank, continue to maintain that all those people whom the PA considers to be “Palestinians” abroad — five million of them — could return to live in Palestine, and so on.
But that was not enough for Mahmoud Abbas, sulking in his tent, outraged — along with his courtiers in the Palestinian Authority — that anyone would think he would gratefully receive $50 billion for his people without insisting that first there had to be political concessions by Israel. In other words, the “Palestinians” needed to be bribed to take the $50 billion. Not all “Palestinians” were quite so ready to write off the possible largesse. At first, some Palestinian businessmen were ready to attend the conference, but were scared off by threats from the Palestinian Authority. And while Israeli businessmen were eager to attend, once the “Palestinians” had pulled out, the Americans rescinded the invitations to the Israelis. So the conference in Bahrain on economic development for the “Palestinians” went on, with neither any “Palestinians” or any “Israelis” present, but with representatives of seven Arab states. Three of these were countries that stand to gain financially from the sums earmarked in this plan for their own resident “Palestinians” — Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Three others — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar — were expected to be among the donor nations. One other — Bahrain — was the host. The “Palestinians” tried and failed to get all the Arabs to boycott the Bahrain event.
Now that the “Palestinians” have looked a giant gift horse in the mouth, how should the rest of the world regard them? The men in Ramallah no doubt think of themselves as demonstrating a fierce and noble pride — “we are people who can’t be bought” — but this is preposterous posturing, because much of the world knows that Mahmoud Abbas, with his $400 million dollar fortune, and with dozens of his West Bank henchman also having enriched themselves, through corruption and theft of aid money, and the world knows, too, that such Hamas leaders as Moussa Abu Marzouki and Khaled Meshal have each squirreled away $2.5 billion, again stolen from the aid money that was meant to support the “Palestinians.’” The “Palestinians,” whether in Gaza or the West Bank, have been led by some of the most corrupt people on earth. Abbas’ “principled stand” amounts to this: he first wants the Palestinians’ political demands to be met, and then they will deign to accept the aid package that the Americans and Arab donors have on offer. Abbas seems to think he will manage to get his way. I think he is wrong.
The “Palestinians’” expect the other Arabs to stand with them. They are overestimating their importance. They still think it is 1990, or 1970, when the “Palestinian” cause was the center of Arab politics. Many Arabs no longer see the “Palestinians” as central. Some Arab states — Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. Egypt — have been talking with the Israelis, sharing intelligence on Iran, attempting jointly to counter Iranian aggression. 33% of Saudis now say they want to establish relations with Israel; five years ago, only 1% of Saudis did. The Arab states, having endured all kinds of domestic threats, including armed conflict, naturally want to focus their attention on their national interests. The “Palestinians” are not part of that calculation. Egypt is trying to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood threat; Libya is still plagued with warring militias; Syria remains in a state of civil war; Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are both consumed with their war against Iran’s proxy, the Shi’a Houthis, in Yemen; Qatar suffers from an air, sea, and land boycott by its Gulf neighbors; Iraq has Sunnis and Shi’a vying for power, and the Kurds are seen as a threat by both in their quest for greater autonomy; Jordan has a large and restive “Palestinian” population that the government has viewed with suspicion ever since the “Palestinians” of Black September rose up against the Jordanian government. All these conflicts, in a region convulsed in violence ever since the “Arab Spring.”
The constant demands and whining from the “Palestinians” have caused quite a few Arab states to lose interest in the “Palestinian” problem; that palpable want of sympathy is likely to increase if the “Palestinians” turn down a hugely generous offer from the rich Arabs and even the West. If they were so dismissive as not even to show up in Manama — well, in Riyadh and Cairo and Dubai they may now be thinking, the hell with you.
The most important Arab states — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt — are likely to decide that this is it, that Bahrain was the last chance for the ‘Palestinians,” and if they didn’t even bother to come and discuss this unprecedented aid offer, then there will be no further offers to this spoiled child of the international community. They’ll be on their own, just like dozens of other peoples. No one offers the Bolivians, or the Nepalese, or the Kurds, 50 billion dollars. Why should the “Palestinians” receive such an offer? The diplomatic power of the Arabs and Muslims has long helped the “’Palestinian’ cause” at the U.N. and other international forums. But now that support is sinking, as Arab nations are beset by their on problems. And the “Palestinians,” with their endless refusals to negotiate, or even to hear out those who want to give them 50 billion dollars in aid, have severely damaged themselves.
There will be no diplomatic push against Israel on their behalf against Israel by the Saudis, the Emiratis, the Egyptians. Israel already collaborates with Egypt against both the Muslim Brotherhood and remnants of the Islamic State in the Sinai. Israel shares intelligence on Iran with Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. For Israel to be of greatest military value in any future confrontation with Iran, it needs to retain control of the invasion route from the east, that is, the West Bank. Saudi Arabia and the Emirates do not want Israel to be fatally weakened by losing military control of the territories. They cannot say this aloud, but their future indifference about the West Bank will be telling. And they can take this occasion of the Bahrain fiasco to simply turn their backs on Mahmoud Abbas, and on the terrorist groups Hamas (which is rightly seen in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as a branch of the hated Muslim Brotherhood of which Hamas is a part), and Hezbollah (which is hated by the Arabs for being a loyal ally and puppet of the Islamic Republic of Iran). After Bahrain, most of the Arabs will have had quite enough of those trouble-making, tiresome, ungrateful “Palestinians.”
In the rest of the world, too, there will be many states, and many peoples, who will be disgusted by the “Palestinian” refusal of such aid. Imagine you are one of the billions of poor people living in sub-Saharan Africa, in South America, in South Asia, or even in the richer countries of the West. What would be your natural reaction to hearing that the “Palestinians” had just turned down $50 billion, unless and until they get all their political demands met? Certainly you would not feel solidarity with these “Palestinians.” You would wonder why the “Palestinians” receive such special treatment, are thought deserving of such gigantic sums, while your own people, in Brazil or Bolivia, India or the Philippines, have nothing like such amounts being offered. The “Palestinians” will no longer be seen by many as people who are “oppressed”; rather, they will be seen as people who are now demanding far too much, have always been demanding too much. And if their fellow Arabs are no longer their enthusiastic supporters, why should we, in the impoverished Third World, continue to carry water at the U.N. for the likes of Mahmoud Abbas?
The day before the Bahrain Conference was to open, which the “Palestinians” both boycotted and denounced, Mahmoud Abbas told journalists that “We will not be slaves or servants for Greenbelt, Kushner and Friedman.” Has he lost his mind? Since when does the receipt of 50 billion dollars turn one into either a “slave or servant” of anyone? There were no political strings attached to this money; the hope was merely that with an increase in “Palestinian” prosperity, there would be a greater willingness to make political compromises. Abbas knows this, but pretends not to. As for the Arab donors, and other Arabs, too, the “Palestinians” have become the spoiled children of the Arab tribe, increasingly intolerable in their demands and behavior. And in what used to be called the Third World, those who loyally supported the “Palestinian” cause may now be ready to rethink that former loyalty, and wash their hands of the people who believe, and have led others to believe, that the world owes them a living, and a good deal more.
if that happens, the meeting in Bahrain, because of who came and even more, because of who didn’t, will have been well worth it.
James Lincoln says
I think most of us at Jihad Watch could have predicted that Abbas would reject Trump’s “last chance” peace plan.
Perhaps President Trump also anticipated this all along. He can now say that he:
-Tried to raise more than $50 billion for the Palestinians
and
-Create one million jobs within a decade
And it was all REJECTED by the Palestinian leadership!
This is likely the END of trying…
Another brilliant move by President Trump – and not a penny spent.
glendl says
There is a major problem with President Trump’s Plan. That problem being the plan expects the Palaeos to get jobs like normal people.
Camille N. Haggard says
Exactly! The one problem they have constantly overlooked. These people have lived chaotic lives, terrible education system, taught only hate and martyrdom. This is not a minor problem.
mike9a says
What a surprise! Insanity is celebrated throughout the world. This is no exception. We know recipients are insane but more staggering is who are the givers? Ah yes, us the kaffirs, we need to pay jizya tax!!!
Karen Dillard says
Of course!
ntesdorf says
Palestinians are not prepared to do any work and so are entirely dependent of Aid of one sort or another. Unless they are prepared to stop Jihadi harassment of Israel, and do some serious self-introspection, they will soon be in real trouble when the money is rejected and the money runs out.
b.a. freeman says
unfortunately, ntesdorf, the money will *NOT* run out, because the nations of the EU will continue to pay jizyah. yes, it’s not $50 billion, but it’s not nothing, either, and every euro squirreled away in a secret bank account is another euro the corrupt “palestinian” official gets to spend later.
James says
There seem to be two viewpoints on the issue. On the one side the portrayal of Islam by Bill Warner and others who see Muslims trying to Islamize the West as unreformable religious fanatics continuing a 1400 year old tradition . On the other had, the international relations perspective where various Arab states act in national interests such as defense against Iran, fighting fanatics in their country, striving for stability in the Near East and Africa. The question is which of these views will prevail. Won’t the fanatics like the Muslim Brotherhood undermine peace processes from within the various Arab countries? Won’t Iran and its proxies try to undermine peace by supporting Islamic fanatics? Is there really any prospect of the Arab states putting national interest in security above loyalty to their Palestinian brothers? Why have the Arab states not tried to protect the Christians and make peace in Lebanon? There the issue of Islamic anti-Semitism would presumably be less salient. It seems as though the author has only considered the view that Arab states will act like secular states in international relations with their policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But what if they are unable to do so?
b.a. freeman says
it’s not that they are unable to act like states, James; they are *unwilling* to do so.
muslims, the believers who form the ummah, form a single nation, according to the head pirate, muhammed. that ummah was splintered by distance and internal politics after the cult spread to europe after infecting north africa, and ultimately, was permanently (sort of) shattered by its defeat in WWI. the league of nations set up “mandates” in the middle east, each ruled by a european country “on behalf of” its “citizens” (serfs). turkey herself almost suffered the same fate, except that the greeks over-extended their army because of the stupidity of their politicians, who ordered the over-extention, and kemal ataturk was able to defeat them and keep anatolia for the caliphate. the caliphate then ended in 1924, and after WWII, the mandates ended, and they all became nations … sort of.
we must remember that to the ummah, nations are an invention of the west. nationhood was thrust upon them, and they accepted it only unwillingly. if one examines islam and the culture of the ummah, one sees an uncanny resemblance to gang life. since islam is a gang cult, this should be unsurprising, but everything about islam is surprising to westerners, because most of us know virtually nothing about it. if one breaks up the gang, the criminals who are gang members don’t stop being criminals; instead, they form smaller gangs. and as it happens, a nation is a handy way for a gang to keep control of its turf. *every* *single* *muslim* *nation* has *ALWAYS* been a dictatorship, since inception, and will always be one, because that is the best way for a gang to be run. thus, in some ways, acting like a nation works for the “nations” of the ummah: a military, an administrative organization, a currency, etc., all help the gang run its turf. but because virtually the entire population (of males; females don’t count, since both they and children are property) is criminal, there will be graft and corruption almost everywhere. and it *CANNOT* be different, because although criminals can cooperate, they rarely pass up an opportunity to steal, even from fellow gang members (close family is about the only exception to that rule). the bottom line is that the 56.1 “nations” of the OIC may look like other nations superficially, but they are really 56.1 gangs, waiting for one major criminal to unite them back into one big gang again (the “palestinians” are the 0.1 country).
Buraq says
Like the Austro-Hungarian Empire whose policy of ‘divide and rule’ paid dividends for hundreds of years, Israel is cleverly doing the same with the Arabs – dividing the Shia and Sunni ‘tribes’ of Islam. Looking at the big picture, America’s naive attempt to solve the ME problems with common sense bolstered by eye-watering amounts of cash, is doomed to failure.
So, when the Kushner caravan finally leaves and the silence of the desert returns, Israel will still be top of the heap and the Arabs shackled to Islam will still have nothing – except their self-delusions of grandeur. Clowns!
Angemon says
That’s 50B less to fund terrorist groups with.
libertyORdeath says
My thoughts exactly. 50B less to covertly purchase weapons to fire at Israel. We obviously know that it wasn’t 50B in cash, but much of the liquid funds would have certainly went to terrorism, rockets, missiles and the like.
Shirley Ann says
Not a Penny for Palestinian Terrorists & Terrorism. I am so ashamed & embarrassed that Western Nations would offer Tribute to these Murderers, who offer us Nothing but Death & Pain. I really detest them & Yes, we have one avowed Palestinian that “SETS” in Congress, whose words & actions prove her hatred of the U.S.A. & one Descendant of A Palestinian & Syrian, who actively works against Our President. The Others are not Known.
glendl says
They are known by their voting records. They are known because they objected to the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem. The list goes on.
gravenimage says
They are also known for waging violent Jihad.
libertyORdeath says
If land and donations worth combined billions in exchange for peace didn’t work then why would this? The only thing that will appease the “Palestinians” is the total destruction of Israel, and even that will only last for so long.
Dennis says
I would love to have the confidence that is expressed in this article that the “Palestinians” have shot themselves in the foot. Unfortunately, I cannot reach that conclusion because I believe that what is not considered in reaching the conclusions of the author is what I refer to as “The Arab mentality.” That mentality is so poisoned by their belief system (Islam) that I do not see the same results from this failure to show up concept expressed by the author. The hate and violence of their belief system will always be their priority, especially as it involves the Jews and the state of Israel. To not see that as the underlying reality is to be deaf and blind. Personally, if Israel has developed “relationships” with some of the Arab countries, now is the time for them to seek their cooperation with respect to Israel determining what their country needs as defensible borders. I believe that those borders ought to be as Far East as the Jordan River, and it should include the port city of Gaza. Taking those territories into its nation will enable Israel to better protect itself, which will benefit those other Arab nations that may now see the Israeli’s as a buffer against aggression from Iran and its supporters. Of course that will likely result in the Gazan and Palestinians being required to accept rule by Israel, or the likelihood that those people are given an incentive to move out of the Israeli territory. That would be the very best result, if that can happen!
Princess says
It can’t happen. A nice YouTube video to explain the situation between Israel and its immediate Arab neighbors is: Palestinians: If Israel left the West Bank and Gaza, would there be peace with Israel?
The following comment by Mahmoud Abbas also explains the situation quite clearly to anyone who chooses to understand its meaning: Mahmoud Abbas told journalists that “We will not be slaves or servants for Greenbelt, Kushner and Friedman.” What do the names Greenblatt, Kushner, and Friedman have in common? They are Jewish names. Is it a coincidence that out of all the people of the US administration, Mahmoud Abbas has particularly singled out these three names? I think not.
Dennis says
This expressed antisemitism is exactly why I believe that the Israeli’s really have no other choice available to them but to determine their own fate, which involves what borders they need to protect themselves. That is what kind of Arab mentality that they are dealing with. Simply put: ” to hell with what the rest of the world thinks.” Do what is necessary to protect your citizens from the expected violence that they constantly face from these so-called “Palestinians.”
kokou Az (@az_kokou) says
Who cares about fakestinians
gravenimage says
Mahmoud Abbas Angrily Rejects $50 Billion Dollar Aid Package
…………………..
I’m glad the Fakestinians are not going to be using American taxpayer dollars to fund their Jihad against Israel.
somehistory says
“Pride goes before a fall,” says the Bible Proverb.
This fool abbas…how long will they allow him to “rule” them…his term has run out, and yet, he still “speaks” for the so-called pal is tin ians. How many of them personally would have said ‘no’ to the money?
abbas can afford to say no because he has pilfered way more than his share from what has been given freely for years, and years and years…while he calls names, insults, demands, lies and pays and praises terrorists for killing Jews. He’s like the guy in the song, “I want it all and I want it now.”
Can;t wait for the day he will have “fallen” for his “pride” and his hatred of all good things. What an ugly and evil creature he is.
joanofark06 says
A few headlines people need to see:
US announces $250 million in military aid to Ukraine
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_announces_250_million_in_military_aid_to_Ukraine_999.html
The U.S. is pouring millions into Somalia despite concerns over dependency on aid
https://somalitopnews.com/2019/06/18/the-u-s-is-pouring-millions-into-somalia-despite-concerns-over-dependency-on-aid/
Washington Expects to Repatriate 20 ISIS Suspects
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1767021/washington-expects-repatriate-20-isis-suspects
US Senate Scrutinizes Saudi, UAE Arms Sales
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2019/06/mil-190616-voa02.htm