West Bank's economy at crossroads

[Trinnity]

West Bank's economy at crossroads (http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/03/201232212736612870.html)

http://elmadar.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%861.jpg

Ramallah, West Bank - The economy of the West Bank has reached a crossroads, and with it so has the Palestinian Authority (PA). As Palestinian lending banks close their doors, development contracts are shelved and everyday spending slows to a trickle, the PA and international institutions speak of an economic crisis in the West Bank.

Conventional analysis blames the failure of donors to fulfill promised pledges for the paralysing PA budget deficit that has reached $.5bn. Meanwhile, Israel blames financial mismanagement by the PA.
But perhaps the standstill in the West Bank's economy is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the Palestinian Authority's chosen path since the start of the "peace process" and the signing of the Oslo Accords.

For nearly two decades, the PA has offered the promise of economic prosperity as a means to placate an occupied and colonised population. The current economic crisis that has pinched every Palestinian's pocket may prove a turning point.

(more at link)

I don't pretend to be an expert on the ME with regard to local issues. Any thoughts on this topic. I'm interested.

[moon]

However, there is a glaring problem with taking this approach in the Palestinian territories: the 45-year-old military occupation. This occupation cuts Palestinians from 60 per cent of the West Bank's land and public resources; and places restrictions on movement of goods and people within and outside of the territories, i.e. trade.

The West Bank is under the neozionist jackboot- not as severely as Gaza but severely enough to strangle commerce . It's absolutely astonishing that 'Israel' could blame its prisoners for ' financial mismanagement ' and be taken seriously.

[Trinnity]

Well wait a minute, moon. Obama sent them 900 million in aid just few months ago. Where did that money end up? How come they're so broke?

900 mil is a LOT of money.

[moon]

Not really. *The PA has 155,000 public sector workers to be paid. * These US of AIPAC hand-outs are to maintain the PA's puppet leadership and to cushion it from Israel's frequent withholding of Palestine's tax revenues- *which Israel collects and subtracts a fee for *. * The West Bank is allowed just enough money to prevent full-scale revolution and a Third Intifada. *

[Mister D]

Not really. *The PA has 155,000 public sector workers to be paid. * These US of AIPAC hand-outs are to maintain the PA's puppet leadership and to cushion it from Israel's frequent withholding of Palestine's tax revenues- *which Israel collects and subtracts a fee for *. * The West Bank is allowed just enough money to prevent full-scale revolution and a Third Intifada. *

What is the US of AIPAC? Are you seriously suggesting that the US is controlled by the Jews?

Thanks, Trinnity. Please use your head next time.

[RollingWave]

Well when even getting trucks in and out of a place is far from guarenteed and every once in a while some rockets land and/or tanks roll in.. i don't think ecnomic theories apply much in this situation ...

[moon]

Foreign aid

The West Bank and Gaza economies have become heavily reliant on foreign aid which stood at 1.8 billion in 2008. Approximately 30% of the GDP, or US$487 per Palestinian per year is aid. Foreign aid provides essential services for nearly half of the Palestinian people, and allows the Palestinian Authority to operate and pay its estimated 140,000 employees.[30]

In 2010, Arab states cut financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. According to the Palestinian Finance Ministry, the PA received $583.5 million in budget support by August 2010, of which only 22 percent came from Arab states. The remainder was from international donors, including the European Union and the United States. Salah Rafat, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, urged the Arab countries to honor their financial pledges.[31]

In April 2011, Salam Fayyad met with Western donors in Brussels and requested $5 billion in aid.[32]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Palestinian_territories



It would be educational to understand why arab States would not honor their pledges of aid to Palestine. *They have plenty of money and , without exception, oppose Zionism and support Palestinian Statehood. *Why keep Palestine in poverty ? *

[moon]

What is the US of AIPAC? Are you seriously suggesting that the US is controlled by the Jews?

*

That's a silly question. * ' AIPAC ' is the acronym for the ' American ISRAEL Public Affairs Committee '. * *25% of Israeli citizens are not jewish. * *Did you think it should be 'AJPAC' *? *

[Mister D]

That's a silly question. * ' AIPAC ' is the acronym for the ' American ISRAEL Public Affairs Committee '. * *25% of Israeli citizens are not jewish. * *Did you think it should be 'AJPAC' *? *

:laugh: *Again, what is the US of AIPAC?* *Are you seriously suggesting that the US is controlled by the Jews?*

[moon]

I refer you to post #8. * You might just as well accept that the answer is there and realise that your desire for sectarian blather is not going to be fulfilled. *Otherwise you'll be parroting pedantry in perpetuity.*

http://www.gifs-paradise.com/animated_gifs/parrots/animated-gifs-parrots-111.gif

[Mister D]

I refer you to post #8. * You might just as well accept that the answer is there and realise that your desire for sectarian blather is not going to be fulfilled. *Otherwise you'll be parroting pedantry in perpetuity.*

http://www.gifs-paradise.com/animated_gifs/parrots/animated-gifs-parrots-111.gif

Coward. Looks like our two-bit Internet propagandist is afraid to elaborate on his conspiracy theory.

[moon]

We had our inaugural spat. *You were rude and aggressive- *you lost. * Why don't you simply avoid me in future and save yourself a lot of embarrassment and discomfort. * I don't want to debate with you- *you don't have any worthwhile material. * No hard feelings. *Take the offer.


Here's a selection of your contributions to just one thread. * Yeah, D, this is you;

Mister D;

You sure you're not some half-educated Arab*?

*You sure you're a Jew?* *You don't sound smart enough.*

two-bit Internet propagandist.

a two-bit propagandist like yourself.

You need an education before you can pose as a Jew, son.*

he's a two-bit Internet propagandist.

This guy is a lousy propagandist. It's amusing how he tries to pass himself off as an intellectual and a Jew to boot.

Coward.*

You're lame, moon.


OK ? *You're exposed. *Pick on somebody your own size.*

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii361/fate-icons/GIF files/charliehunnamlaugh.gif

[Mister D]

You are a fine cherry picker! I didn't realize they grew in the desert. :grin:

What do you mean by the US of AIPAC? Do the Jews run the US? Why can't you elaborate on your conspiracy theory for us? Coward.

[moon]

Hey, mind you don't keep bumping into the same stuff, lurching through the mall;

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/silvermoonblazed/1zombiegif.gif

[Mister D]

Hey, mind you don't keep bumping into the same stuff, lurching through the mall;

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/silvermoonblazed/1zombiegif.gif

*You're lame, moon.* *You just aren't good at this.*

*Why can't you elaborate on your conspiracy theory for us?* *What did you mean by the US of AIPAC?* *Do the Jews control the US?* *Whatever did you mean?* :grin:

[moon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSC1GhGdsgg »

Now then, who does that remind you of *? *

[Mister D]

Are all two-bit Internet propagandists this cowardly? What do you mean by the US of AIPAC? Do the Jews run the US? Why can't you elaborate on your conspiracy theory for us? =)

[Trinnity]

The USA has been an ally of Israel for a long time and that will not change.
It is the only democracy in the Middle East.

[wingrider]

The USA has been an ally of Israel for a long time and that will not change.
It is the only democracy in the Middle East.

quoted for truth trinnity..

[moon]

The USA has been an ally of Israel for a long time and that will not change.

It is the only democracy in the Middle East.

*

I disagree with both assertions- each of which could have been viewed as accurate some years ago .
Firstly, American support for Israel is dependent upon the perceived voting patterns of Americans. Successive presidents , from Truman on down, have valued what they thought of as ' the jewish vote' at home. In fact, Truman's support for ' a State of Israel ' was based entirely upon winning that vote. The documentary record emphasises his concerns. This ' jewish vote ' , however, is not, and was not, solely the numbers of votes cast by jews in America. Over the years the American evangelical movement has become supportive of the concept of ' Zion ' and woven it into their own beliefs. There are, of course, many more millions of Evangelists in America than there are jews. ' Christian Zionism ' has become almost a religious mantra in itself- its adherents holding simplistic beliefs such as a ' second coming ' of their deity's child and the end of the world - for everybody other than Christian Zionists- in a final ' Rapture '. Frightening ? It should be. These people have immense power in Washington. They buy and sell Congressmen and Senators and literally write their own foreign policies concerning Israel- the largest recipient of American tax dollars that there has ever been.
*The generic term for this multi-religious arm of the US military-industrial complex is - The Israel Lobby. Two eminent Chigago-based professors wrote an expose of its practices entitled ' The Israel Lobby '. ( there is a link to it below ). Each was subjected to the usual attempts at character assassination which prevail whenever criticism of Israel is voiced but criticism of Israel is becoming far more common than it once was. The reasons for that are, of course, the greater publicity in modern times of Israel's activities and breaches of international and humanitarian law. Irrespective of this sea-change in world-wide regard of Israel the Israel Lobby in Washington remains THE ass to lick for any US politician wanting to complete his career. The Christian Zionist/Evangelical voter base is easily manipulated and that becomes a powerful weapon in the hands of Israel Lobbyists- notable through its AIPAC arm- the American Israel Public Affairs Committee- which campaigns on behalf of Zionism. So powerful is AIPAC that its opponents have called for it to be designated an office of a foreign government. Indeed, its most strident voices are known as ' Israel Firsters '- those Americans who put Israel before the United States. *
' Zionism ' is not a religion. It is a political doctrine. Further, there are far , far more Christian Zionists in America than there are jews. Not only that but many American jews don't even support Israel themselves, let alone place it above the US in their lists of patriotic priorities. So, when opponents of the Israel Lobby take the Israel Firsters collectively the term ' US of AIPAC ' is used to demonstrate just how subservient Washington has become to the Israel Lobby. In fact, anybody can see how powerful it is by its recent activities which led the President of the United States, Barack Obama, to VETO his OWN POLICY on illegal Zionist settlements at the United Nations. So, the Evangelic movement has gained control over American politics despite Constitutional guarantees that there would always be a separation of church and State. The US of AIPAC dances to the tune of the Israel Lobby whilst ordinary Americans are taxed to support a country half a world away on the grounds that no American politician can ever hold high office if he/she does NOT tax them for that purpose. That's power. AIPAC itself is NOT an exclusively ' jewish ' operation though. Jewish and Christian Zionist share the same goals- up to a point- and share power too. Those that mouth ' antisemitism ' whenever anybody challenges AIPAC control are simply hoping to introduce sectarian taboos to paper over the chasms in their argument. AIPAC is a Zionist organization and ' Judaism ' and ' Zionism ' are NOT synonymous. Neither are ' Jewish ' , ' Israeli' or 'Zionist '. 25 % of Israelis are NOT jewish and certainly NOT Zionists either. Israel's position grows progressively weaker.
*Will the circumstances change ? Yes, it's probable. American demographics are changing. White christians will become a minority in about 40 years and Evangelism will shrink and weaken. This change will almost certainly be preceded by a shift in public opinion away from Israel anyway. The Internet has become a tool which combats Zionist propaganda, America is in debt to the eye-watering peak of 16 trillion dollars, and world opinion will shape US foreign policy far more than it has done to date. Already, 80% of the planet's represented peoples recognize the Palestinian State. Such a State is anathema to Zionism. The outcome ? Zionism will fade. It won't have the voting power it has grown fat on.

Secondly, Israel's ' democracy ' is already the subject of debate and it is no longer taken for granted. It doesn't work in practice and it has the sad reputation of being a ' democracy for jews '. That, of course, isn't how a democracy works. Also, the Middle East has other ' democracies '. Israel's fading exclusivity is bound to affect its ' aid ' takings from the US milch cow.

http://us.macmillan.com/theisraellobbyandusforeignpolicy/JohnMearsheimer

http://www.irmep.org/ADLPB.htm
The Justice Department's Battle to Register the Israel Lobby as Agents of a Foreign Government
by Grant F. Smith


7-19-06

Evangelical Christians plead for Israel

More than 3,400 evangelical Christians have arrived in Washington to lobby lawmakers as part of the first annual summit of Christians United for Israel.

Delegates have come from all 50 states and have 280 meetings on Capitol Hill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5193092.stm



Christian Extreme Right and AIPAC

http://www.stopaipac.org/christianright.htm

What , me worry ? * * You bet.*

[wingrider]

please name a full democracy in the middle east besides isreal.. just one would be sufficient.. a true democracy where everyone of age has the vote and the people pick their leaders.. I am sorry to tell you this but your whole posts sounds like jealousy wrapped in the flag of envy..

[moon]

Again, Israel's is NOT a democracy in practice. *Democracy offers equality for all. *That doesn't exist in Israel. * *You are waving a tarnished flag, and it's out of date* .*


Lurching Toward Gomorrah: Growing Israeli Fascism

http://www.aljazeera-news.net/focus/analysis/6535-growing-israeli-fascism.html

[wingrider]

if it isn't then why are arabs members of the knesset?

http://www.answers.com/topic/arab-members-of-the-knesset

[Mister D]

Again, Israel's is NOT a democracy in practice. *Democracy offers equality for all. *That doesn't exist in Israel. * *You are waving a tarnished flag, and it's out of date* .*

You all got along very well with the Nazis so this should be good news. :wink:

[moon]

if it isn't then why are arabs members of the knesset?

http://www.answers.com/topic/arab-members-of-the-knesset

For somebody who was going to ignore me because I opposed the racist twaddle of your chum you are a very chatty chap.
**OK, I said that Israel's isn't a practical democracy. *It isn't. *Proportional representation in a country comprising 23% Israeli arab muslims would return 23% of Knesset members. *It doesn't. * There are many racist laws in Israel which victimize arabs and muslims. * Take out the Druze and christians from your list and what have you got left ?* *That's undemocratic. *Care to argue to the contrary ?*

[moon]

You all got along very well with the Nazis so this should be good news. :wink:

*You must be confusing my tribe with Judenrats. * * I'll tell you now- *every time you attempt to associate me with ' jew-hatred ' , Nazism, or any other racist or otherwise extremist viewpoint you're going to score an own goal. * You're aware of the Judenrats, are you ? * Perhaps antisemitosis disallows self-criticism ?*

..and your dumb ' winkie ' emoticon is fooling nobody.*

[Mister D]

*You must be confusing my tribe with Judenrats. * * I'll tell you now- *every time you attempt to associate me with ' jew-hatred ' , Nazism, or any other racist or otherwise extremist viewpoint you're going to score an own goal. * You're aware of the Judenrats, are you ? * Perhaps antisemitosis disallows self-criticism ?*

..and your dumb ' winkie ' emoticon is fooling nobody.*

Any time you attempt to intimate that Israel is a fascist state you will be associated with Jew hatred and that's your own fault.

[Mister D]

For somebody who was going to ignore me because I opposed the racist twaddle of your chum you are a very chatty chap.
**OK, I said that Israel's isn't a practical democracy. *It isn't. *Proportional representation in a country comprising 23% Israeli arab muslims would return 23% of Knesset members. *It doesn't. * There are many racist laws in Israel which victimize arabs and muslims. * Take out the Druze and christians from your list and what have you got left ?* *That's undemocratic. *Care to argue to the contrary ?*

That's not how proportional representation works. :laugh: So, again, this supposedly racist and fascist state allows Arabs representation in parliament!? Is that what you want us to believe?

[moon]

That's not how proportional representation works. :laugh: So, again, this supposedly racist and fascist state allows Arabs representation in parliament!? Is that what you want us to believe?

Not ' allows '. *You mean ' tolerates '- *and they're working on that.*

[moon]

Any time you attempt to intimate that Israel is a fascist state you will be associated with Jew hatred and that's your own fault.

Again, ' Israel ' and ' Judaism ' are not synonymous. *You can try to hide Israel's current lurch towards fascism behind Judaism- *your one and only fig-leaf, evidently- * but you'll get winkled out. *

*Will Israel turn into the fascist State of Judea by 2022?

Israeli artist Yosi Even Kama's exhibit on display at Shenkar sees civil war between religious right and secular left only a decade away.

http://www.haaretz.com/culture/will-israel-turn-into-the-fascist-state-of-judea-by-2022-1.303585


"We will not be citizens of a fascist state purporting to be Israel"

http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/events/1286745470/


Bedouin village razed again; residents: Fascist state

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4014380,00.html

http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Demonstrations/20120105/1-IMG_0412-Consulate.jpg
Jan 5, 2012: Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews garbed in concentration camp clothing and yellow Stars of David pinned on their chests demonstrated in a protest march starting at the Israeli Consulate in New York City and ending at the United Nations Headquarters. Read Why.
http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Demonstrations/20120105.cfm

*So don't give me any more of your ' anti-jewish ' malarkey. It's become a canard for charlatans. *Judaism has good and bad elements, like any other religion. *Zionism has nothing good about it.

[Trinnity]

That is true. All govts, races, religions, and individuals have their good and bad. Profound truth~

[Goldie Locks]

The USA has been an ally of Israel for a long time and that will not change.
It is the only democracy in the Middle East.

It will change if Ubama has anything to do with it.

[Goldie Locks]

Again, Israel's is NOT a democracy in practice. *Democracy offers equality for all. *That doesn't exist in Israel. * *You are waving a tarnished flag, and it's out of date* .*


So you live there???

[moon]

So you live there???

Well no, *but I can tell it's cold in Alaska by the igloos.*

[wingrider]

Well no, *but I can tell it's cold in Alaska by the igloos.* isn't it amazing the pictures you can get with google earth?

[moon]

isn't it amazing the pictures you can get with google earth?

http://theangloamerican.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/dimona-israel-nuclear.jpg

It certainly is. *I thought at first that these were igloos- *in Israel's Dimona nuclear plant- *but it turns out that they're just reactor housings where they don't enrich plutonium nor make thermo-nuclear bombs either. * They do make electricity though, and they sell it to Palestinians who can't make their own because they're denied fuel and the IOF have flattened their power stations anyway. *Win, win, eh ? * They get to bomb Palestine and then sell Palestinians expensive electricity. *When they feel like it, that is.*

*Incidentally, the long buildings in the front are where they don't store the thermo-nuclear weapons which they don't make there .*

[wingrider]

yep.. isreal has nukes...I don't believe I would try genocide with them.. maight not be a good idea.. you do know that the atomic bomb and the theory of relativity was discovered by a Jew don't you? they are some very smart people.

[moon]

yep.. isreal has nukes...I don't believe I would try genocide with them.. maight not be a good idea.. you do know that the atomic bomb and the theory of relativity was discovered by a Jew don't you? they are some very smart people.

Einstein was disgusted at the uses to which his atomic theory was put. * So am I. * Judaism has naff-all to do with it. * Religion doesn't make people clever. * Quite the opposite, in most instances.

[wingrider]

Einstein was disgusted at the uses to which his atomic theory was put. * So am I. * Judaism has naff-all to do with it. * Religion doesn't make people clever. * Quite the opposite, in most instances. I am sorry I don't quite follow you here what does religion have to do with nukes and the theory of relativity?? please clarify

[moon]

I am sorry I don't quite follow you here what does religion have to do with nukes and the theory of relativity?? please clarify

**It was you who introduced a sectarian element into atomic physics, not me. * It was only a few posts back.* *#37.

[wingrider]

*It was you you introduced a sectarian element into atomic physics, not me. * It was only a few posts back.* *#37.

but I never said one word about religion..

[moon]

but I never said one word about religion..

You'd best be reading your post #37 again.*

[wingrider]

You'd best be reading your post #37 again.*
ok here is post 37.. would you tell me where I metioned religion in this post ? I can't seem to find that word.

yep.. isreal has nukes...I don't believe I would try genocide with them.. maight not be a good idea.. you do know that the atomic bomb and the theory of relativity was discovered by a Jew don't you? they are some very smart people

[moon]

ok here is post 37.. would you tell me where I metioned religion in this post ? I can't seem to find that word.

yep.. isreal has nukes...I don't believe I would try genocide with them.. maight not be a good idea.. you do know that the atomic bomb and the theory of relativity was discovered by a Jew don't you? they are some very smart people


You must be one of those - rapidly diminishing- *group of people who don't believe that Judaism is a religion. * Well, it's not for me to disillusion you. * Unless you insist.*
Take it someplace else though. *This thread doesn't have a sectarian theme.*