The World's Most Avid Beggars
That's all right, Kingdom of oil-rich Saudi Arabia has offered the Palestinian Authority a one-time sum of $200M which will help enormously as a stop-gap. After that, who knows? Is it not ironic that an absurdly wealthy Arab Muslim country which draws its wealth from the West and exports to the West its brand of fanatical Wahaabism responsible for violent jihad has had a hands-off policy with respect to sharing its wealth, content to continue exerting its authority and encouragement over the PA to 'resist' the 'occupation' which it originally initiated, feeling quite comfortable with its oil client footing the bill for all these years in support of the 'refugees' Saudi Arabia helped create?Report: PA Could Collapse Without US Aid
by Gavriel Queenann
The Palestinian Authority's top monetary official warned Tuesday a cessation of foreign aid from the United States could lead to fiscal ruin and collapse, the PA's semi-official Maan news agency reported.
"It would have a major impact on the economic situation in the West Bank, if the you lose $500 million [in US aid] from financial support for development in the West Bank," Palestinian Monetary Authority Governor Jihad al-Wazir said.
"Really, the risk of a PA collapse is very real under the financial strain, without US assistance, without donor assistance in general," al-Wazir said.
The United States, a major source of financing and aid for the PA, is sharply opposed to its bid for statehood at the United Nations and has promised to use its veto in the Security Council.
Washington has warned of repercussions if President Mahmoud Abbas refuses to back down at the world body, with potential aid cuts and terminating ties being hinted at by both sides.
US lawmakers have said they will pressure the Obama administration to cut American aid to the PA if they refuse to back down.
Al-Wazir said it is unlikely US aid, if cut, would be made up by other donor countries.
"I think it will be highly, very difficult at this stage, because Arab support also hasn't been forthcoming as much as it should have when it comes to budget support," said al-Wazir, who oversees finances in both PA enclaves and Hamas-run Gaza.
"The biggest fear now is that if the Palestinians are turned back empty-handed, what is going to happen to the situation in the West Bank and in particular in Gaza," he said.
Al-Wazir's statements are a stark contrast to claims by PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad that they are not only ready for statehood, but economically viable.
The PA economy, which had modest growth before suffering a sharp downturn resulting from the Arab Spring, is heavily dependent on Israeli cooperation.
Al-Wazir also admitted Israel could sharply impact PA economic life, which deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon warned UN donor nations could happen if the PA pursues its bid.
"Next month it will be a problem [for salaries], probably, unless we get some funding," al-Wazir said.
The PA pays salaries to 150,000 people in its enclaves in Judea and Samaria, and Hamas-run Gaza, and monthly allowances to another 75,000 people.
As published online at ArutzSheva, 21 September 2011
Labels: Palestinian Authority, Political Realities, United Nations, United States
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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