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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| U.S. Agrees to Plan for Stipends for Some Palestinians |
| 2006-06-17 |
| The Bush administration said Friday that it would go along with a European proposal to transfer funds through the World Bank to pay stipends to poor Palestinians, some of whom had previously drawn salaries from the Palestinian government. The European plan would also pay "emergency allowances," but not salaries, to some nurses, doctors and others in health care. The European Union had earlier proposed a transfer of money from European governments to a "mechanism" set up by the World Bank to pay salaries for nurses, doctors and others in the Palestinian government. But because the government is now run by Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, the administration had opposed payment of salaries as a violation of American laws barring bank transfers to terrorists. But the chief European envoy on the issue, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said Friday that she would visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on Monday to work out final details in a way she hoped would satisfy American objections. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States was "close to substantial agreement" with Ms. Ferrero-Waldner's proposal. A senior State Department official, going further, said there was an agreement in principle among the United States, Europe, Russia and the United Nations that would be announced as early as this weekend. The official, speaking anonymously because details remained to be worked out, said the breakthrough in the talks had occurred because the payments would be "based on need" and not on who had been employed by the Palestinian government. But he said some government employees might qualify. Such insanity. Not a single dollar flows into that place that doesn't somehow end up supporting violence. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 I'm beginning to dislike President Bush. I've never much liked the Republicans - but I've been forced to vote for them because the Dems are such a bunch of nose-picking losers. Sigh. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-06-17 18:43 |
| #5 Just plain stupid. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-06-17 18:33 |
| #4 Stick the "stipends" up their...and call it macaroni. |
| Posted by: Inspector Clueso 2006-06-17 17:47 |
| #3 Not with my wifes hard earned money. Not one dime. How about a job for me first? Screw the Paleo's. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-06-17 17:38 |
| #2 My previous enthusiasm for Condoleeza Rice is starting to flag. This is just f**king stupid. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-06-17 17:22 |
| #1 nnnooooooooooooo! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-17 17:04 |