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| Arafat says, "Mo’ Money!" |
| 2004-02-17 |
| International aid to Yasser Arafat has been cut in half because of suspicions of corruption and a Palestinian failure to show the money is being spent properly, Western diplomats and officials in the West Bank said yesterday. "suspicions" of corruption? failure to spend properly? But hasn’t this reporter seen the ultramodern schools and hospitals that have been built with that aid money? And the luxurious housing, which has eliminated the refugee problem? Someone’s not paying attention. Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad said aid from the European Union, which used to run $120 million a year, had fallen to $80 million. The union is Arafat’s biggest financial supporter and had earmarked the money for relief aid and to cover the salaries of 120,000 Palestinian civil-service employees. Fayyad gave no figures for donations from Arab states but said all international aid to the Palestinians had dropped "by around half" over the last two years. Western diplomats said more than $50 million in European Union aid was being held back until the Palestinian Authority paid salaries for its security services through bank transfers - rather than by cash that cannot be traced. All right, it’s a drop in the bucket. But you’ve got to start someplace. |
| Posted by:growler |
| #6 This. Is. An. Outrage! Arafat deserves better than this! Don't the infidels know that Ya-bidi Ya-bidi Ya-bidi, Arafat! (sorry, I was channeling porky pig for a second) is keeping all those dollars and euros safe, for when there's a Palestine proper, and all the Jews are finally dead. Then he'll unleash his secret plan to rename Jerusalem to Mohammedburg, and triumphantly cruise the new I mean, it’s SO fucking obvious! (There. Is that $50 worth? Cool. Call me again sometime…) |
| Posted by: Hyper 2004-2-17 7:22:29 PM |
| #5 The U.S. cut aid by a BIG chunk. We asked them not to use our funding for terror activity and they said they couldn't promise that. At least they were 'honest' about it. No more Saddam funding. No more U.S. Funding. And I bet no one else wants to give Arafat a dime. Sounds like he might have to wire his wife for a few francs? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-2-17 3:45:44 PM |
| #4 If total aid has dropped 50% and the EU aid has only dropped 33% (form $120M to $80M), it implies that somebody has cut aid more than 50%. Could it be that the Saudis have finally had enough Arafat? |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-2-17 2:37:17 PM |
| #3 But....but...but.... They can see Arafish's wife's new clothes and jewelry right there in Paris! Are they blind? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-2-17 1:09:07 PM |
| #2 Even the arab countries realize that the PA is a black hole for money and are holding back. If the EU wants to throw its money down a rathole, then have a ball. If I were an EU citizen, I would be raising hell over my tax Euros being thrown away, hey, but it is their show. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-2-17 11:11:02 AM |
| #1 Damn! Even the EU isn't buying the bullshit anymore! This is serious, Yasshole! You might have to hit your personal stash! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-17 10:47:41 AM |