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| Middle East |
| Paleos seek £1bn in foreign aid |
| 2003-02-19 |
| The Palestinian Authority called for £1bn (£625m) in aid to deal with the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Territories at talks in London yesterday. Palestinian cabinet Wonder who we should help first? In the occupied territories the situation is dire. Most Palestinians live on less than about £1 a day, and the level of malnutrition in the Gaza Strip is comparable to that in Congo. The Palestinian Authority's plea for funds was issued after Unrwa, a UN agency that feeds Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Territories, said it needed $94m immediately for food. Israel made the Negev bloom. The Paleos made Gaza, well ... Gaza. The Palestinian delegation travelled to London after the Israeli government lifted a travel ban it imposed on Palestinian officials after a suicide bombing killed 23 people in Tel Aviv in January. It is believed the Israeli authorities lifted the ban under pressure from Washington. The meetings in London was held as Israeli and Palestinian officials began tentative discussions – also apparently under American pressure -- and Yasser Arafat agreed to appoint a new Palestinian Prime Minister to take over negotiations with the Israelis and the day-to-day Palestinian leadership. Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Finance Minister, considered a front-runner for the job, ruled himself out yesterday. "I'm not a candidate for this position," he said. "Please don't blow up my house!" Mr Fayyad was reported to be the Americans' favourite. Where he comes from, that's the kiss of death. He has won international praise for his efforts to reform the Palestinian economy and root out corruption. But Mr Fayyad said: "I'm a newcomer to the Palestinian Authority. There's no doubt in my mind there are others ... who are more suitable for the job." "Someone who doesn't mind dying." Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Arafat's deputy in the Palestine Liberation Organisation and another leading candidate, said yesterday he would consider the job if offered it. Abbas is the "mayor's man", as we would say in Chicago. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 Super-size! And hold the lard, please... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-02-19 12:37:18 |
| #3 Frank, that's a great idea! For every gun, a loaf of bread, for every mortar, a fruit basket, and for every phoney passport, a super-sized order of "freedom fries"! |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-02-19 11:07:18 |
| #2 Where are the gun-control nuts? Why don't they sponsor a "turn in a gun/mortar/roadside bomb/drone airplane bomb.... - get a food coupon" drive? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-19 10:47:07 |
| #1 Another "worsening humanitarian crisis" in Paliland? Well, boo hoo hoo. Some things never change. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-02-19 08:57:08 |