Posted on 05/16/2006 5:28:40 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
Abbas warns of 'explosion of anger' if Palestinian aid not restored
By News Agencies
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned Tuesday of a Palestinian "explosion of anger" if international donors did not move fast to restore aid cut off in recent weeks.
"Life will be frozen and there will be an explosion of anger and this would lead to a chaotic situation of which we cannot forsee the results," Abbas told a news conference after a speech to the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg.
"I would like to adopt the mechanism as quickly as possible so the crisis does not take place," he added.
"We are waiting, but we hope that we do not have to wait too long. We are in a race against time and therefore we have to be swift in the steps we undertake in order to avoid this catastrophe."
In his address to the European Parliament, Abbas appealed for the EU to give the Hamas-led government a "chance to adapt" to international requirements and not cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority.
"Stopping assistance to the Palestinian Authority, cutting aid, will exacerbate the deteriorating economic and social situation," Abbas told the European Parliament.
Abbas said he hoped to start a "national dialogue" in the next few days that could lead the Hamas government "to amend its platform" and conform with commitments to the peace process made by the previous Palestinian administration.
"Our approach needs the support of the international community," Abbas told the EU assembly. "The new government must be given the given the chance to adapt to the basic requirements of the international community."
He warned of dire consequences if the Israeli government goes ahead with plans to unilaterally impose a border on the Palestinians.
"The attempt to implement these unilateral projects will destroy any remaining hope of reviving the peace process," Abbas said.
"It will also lead to another bitter era of tension and conflict for which peoples in this region have, for decades, paid a heavy price."
The EU and the United States froze hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas won legislative elections in January. Washington and the EU list Hamas as a terrorist organization and have demanded the group renounce violence and recognize Israel.
The EU says it will only revive direct aid to the PA if Hamas renounces violence, recognizes the State of Israel and signs up to earlier peace agreements. Abbas, whose Fatah party was defeated in the January elections, has been prodding the new Hamas government to change its violently anti-Israel position.
"I have asked the new government to amend its platform in order to conform to these international commitments," Abbas told the EU parliament. "We are in a continued dialogue that will take us to an expanded national dialogue in a few days. I hope that this will lead us to the required process of amendment."
EU foreign ministers said Monday the bloc was moving swiftly ahead with plans to get financial aid to the Palestinians without it reaching the Hamas government. External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said a temporary trust fund to handle the money could be set up as early as June.
The aid cutoff, along with Israel's decision to withhold the transfer of more than $50 million in monthly tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA, has plunged the West Bank and Gaza into a financial crisis.
To try to get around Hamas, the EU and its three partners in the Quartet of Middle East peace brokers - Russia, the United States and the United Nations - decided last week to try to funnel aid through a temporary trust fund. Abbas welcomed that decision.
The fund would be held by an international organization such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund or the United Nations and jointly controlled by the Quartet members to avoid direct contact with Hamas.
Oh no, now they'll be for the destruction of Israel. /sarc
Hehe...explosion...
Sounds like he has a short fuse.
'explosion of anger' ???
That mean they won't even need the bomb belts?
So Abbas has been sitting on a tinderbox for years and now is worried that it will blow up in his face instead of Israel's. Sounds like poetic justice to me.
Bring it on, Smelly
You are right, that's the Islamist line, "We're going to kill you. Oh, and by the way, do what we say or we'll also kill you."
What's going to be different?
Why is it exactly that certain populations, like the Arabs in Gaza for example, can never be self-sufficient? Why can they never feed themselves or make anything of value?
Why doesn't he carry his a** to Saudi Arabia and bow and scrape before the king and ask for some cash?
What Abbas is really trying to say is: "You'd better give us back our toys and let us eat ice cream for dinner, or we're gonna get real mad and throw a tantrum on the living room floor in front of company and embarrass you!"
If we had real leaders, we would treat such threats as any true parent 60-70 years ago.
"We" will continue to manage your "explosions of anger" as we have in the past.
It's starting to dawn on him that he has a tiger by the tail.
The Palestinian street beggar will cut you with his switchblade if you don't hand over your wallet. I say screw 'em/ Muslims must learn to live with the consequences of the actions. I like how the Muslim always tries to rip off the prosperous infidel. Prosperous because he has sane religions and a sane society. Prosperous because his head isn't burred in the Koran with it's murderous 7th century static ideologies
This is Hamas' problem. Hamas should pray to their false god for pennies from heaven.
Kind of reminds me of a kid who threatens to misbehave unless his mom buys him what he wants...
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