Quartet Decides to Increase Pressure on Israel

[bemildred]

(IsraelNN.com) The Quartet Forum, the United States, the UN, Russia and the European Union (EU) announced plans to temporarily expand assistance to the PA (Palestinian Authority), welcoming ongoing efforts towards the establishment of a coalition government.

As such, the decision has been made to pressure Israel into forwarding tax revenue funds intended for the PA, amounting to $500 million.

The Quartet does however agree the funds must be distributed in such a way that they will bypass the Hamas-led administration.

Arutz Sheva

[razors edge]

1. how very democratic of them.

[The Magistrate]

2. That, Mr. Mildred, Will Be Some Trick

The fellows that can turn money over to a governing authority without letting its current administration get at least a decent skim would be men to watch awful close....

"Watch me pull a rabbit out of this hat!"

[bemildred]

3. I find it is easier to understand these things if you stop expecting them

to make sense. At present I am merely noticing a change in the rhetoric being used, and considering whether it is yet time to try to figure out what the new "plan" is.

[The Magistrate]

4. It Seems To Me, Sir

That there is growing foreign support, anyway, for the idea of a "national unity" government of the Palestine Authority, that would serve as a cover for liquidating the failed experiment of the Hamas ministry. If people want it, they are going to have to buy it, and the Fatah people will have to receive a good deal of cash to execute it. Doubtless the Israelis, pressure or no, will not release a dime until it can be said, at least, the P.A. government is no longer a Hamas government. With any luck, the Fatah people will have learned to stick together in a single bloc rather than splinter in the next election, and a number of people who voted for Hamas as a protest of Fatah corruption will have learned better as well.

To my view, they do make sense, just not a very edifying or pleasant sense.

"This is the bst world possible: everything in it is a necessary evil."

[bemildred]

5. We will see if you are correct, Sir.

I don't have an opinion as yet, although I can say your version is as good as any. I do sense a possible change towards providing Abbas with more support, which could be a good thing.