Lieberman rejects Germany's request to free up Palestinian tax money

[bemildred]

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PA President Mahmoud Abbas "is taking the money and handing it out to murderers," the Foreign Ministry officials quoted Lieberman as saying to Westerwelle on Thursday. "He is continuing to take unilateral steps, both in the UN Security Council and in the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Israel cannot be expected to be the one who adheres to the rules of the game. We also have emotions and public opinion."

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Lieberman also rejected the German argument that another sanction, Israel's plans to expedite the construction of 2,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank areas of Gush Etzion and Ma'aleh Adumim, would escalate the security situation.

"Stop talking to me about settlements - they have never been an obstacle to peace," Lieberman told his German counterpart, said the Foreign Ministry officials. "With all due friendliness and esteem, we will not accept that Gilo is a settlement."

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Germany voted against granting full UNESCO membership to Palestine, and highly placed German government sources said the Angela Merkel government viewed the Israeli sanctions as "planned escalation."

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/lieberman-rejects-germany-s-request-to-free-up-palestinian-tax-money-1.394261

[Laluchacontinua]

1. wtf?

[oberliner]

2. The Israeli government does not consider Gilo to be a settlement

They consider it to be a neighborhood in Jerusalem.

[Laluchacontinua]

3. but it seems most of the 'international community' disagrees.

Because Gilo is located beyond the 1949 Green Line, on land occupied during the Six Day War, the United Nations,<24> the European Union<25> and Japan<26> refer to it as an illegal settlement.

Plans to expand Gilo have drawn criticism from the United States and United Kingdom. Israel maintains that it has the right to build freely in Gilo because the neighborhood is within Jerusalem municipal borders and not a West Bank settlement.<[/i>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilo

[Violet_Crumble]

6. And rightly so...

Here's a map of how Israel has expanded the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem deep into the West Bank. Gilo sits in the West Bank



Regardless of how the Israeli government views it, withholding tax that doesn't belong to Israel is unacceptable, and it comes as no surprise that the likes of Lieberman would try to justify it...

[oberliner]

7. I think Gilo ends up as part of Israel in a final agreement

It's on the Western rather than the Eastern side of the city (although south of the internationally recognized boundary).

The Geneva Initiative shows it as part of a territorial swap between the Israelis and Palestinians on its site:

http://www.geneva-accord.org/mainmenu/geneva-initiative-jerusalem-%E2%80%93-gilo/beit-jala

[azurnoir]

4. yes however the tax money is the Palestinians

Israel froze the tax income from October that it collects for the Palestinians after UNESCO voted to make Palestine a full member earlier this month. The PA uses the estimated $100 million a month to pay wages to thousands of security personnel, government officials and civil servants.

[oberliner]

8. That will be resolved quickly

He is just playing games.

[azurnoir]

5. what should we expect from Israel what with all those emotions

and public opinion and stuff

[shira]

11. Think Abbas should be pressured not to pay off terrorists with US/EU tax dollars? n/t

[azurnoir]

13. I think you need to read your own OP's

The new housing project will be funded by the Palestinian Investment Fund, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The PIF was established in 2003 as an independent investment company with the aim of strengthening the Palestinian economy through key investments.

The announcement came during a meeting between Abbas and some of the released prisoners in his office in Ramallah on Saturday. Earlier, Abbas decided to award the prisoners financial grants of several thousand dollars for each inmate.

The prisoners will receive up to $5,000 from the PA and $2,000 from the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting with the prisoners, Abbas said that the issue of the prisoners was at the top of the PA’s list of priorities. He said that PA negotiators raise the issue in all meetings and forums.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x371111

there is no reason to think the money is not coming from the same place and were Israel not keeping (with holding) tax money rightfully the PA's it might come from there, that being said I came think of a number of self serving reasons that you would be making the claims you are, however any money the US is giving the PA is for security and only because Israel gave the US its permission to do so.

[shira]

15. That's US tax dollar money going into a very corrupt Palestine Investment Fund...

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/185497-congress-needs-to-investigate-a-corrupt-palestine-investment-fund

[azurnoir]

16. Really how much and from where ?

your link starts out this little gem

PIF officers in the West Bank cede that these assets are lost. They sent out an email noting that Hamas had “confiscated some of its assets and properties,” condemning the action as illegal. The fund declared that it “won’t be responsible for any future measures, deals or agreements” associated with those holdings, and that whatever Hamas may do with them “doesn’t represent the PIF or its companies and properties.”

but does not mention till halfway down the page that

PIF officers in the West Bank cede that these assets are lost. They sent out an email noting that Hamas had “confiscated some of its assets and properties,” condemning the action as illegal. The fund declared that it “won’t be responsible for any future measures, deals or agreements” associated with those holdings, and that whatever Hamas may do with them “doesn’t represent the PIF or its companies and properties.”

now here are the magor investors in PIF

From Washington’s perspective, the conflict of interest is clear. Several U.S. organizations contribute to the PIF, including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which provided 50 percent of the funding for the PIF’s Affordable Mortgage and Loan Program (AMAL), a total of $241 million. The Washington-based Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII), a non-profit where former secretary of state Madeleine Albright sits on the board, owns 15 percent of AMAL.

some of these organization are tax exempt is that what you mean?

[shira]

18. For starters, you cited the US government taxpayer funded OPIC...

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which provided 50 percent of the funding for the PIF's Affordable Mortgage and Loan Program (AMAL), a total of $241 million."

[azurnoir]

20. OPIC Overseas Private Investment Corporation

you do understand the meaning Private right?

[shira]

21. From the OPIC website....

OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. It mobilizes private capital to help solve critical world challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy. Because OPIC works with the U.S. private sector, it helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.
http://www.opic.gov/

[azurnoir]

22. Shira do you read what you post? its says OPIC uses private funds n/t

[shira]

24. True, but our tax dollars fund the agency that distributes $$ for US foreign policy purposes

When those funds go to Hamas and terrorists, that's pretty fucking bad.

And illegal.

[azurnoir]

28. huh? what agency the one that uses private funds?MEII?

On May 22, 2008, Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the National Insurance Company (NIC), based in Ramallah, outlining a partnership to develop and deploy Palestinian Political Risk Insurance (PPRI). This specialized insurance coverage will be designed to help local businesses mitigate risks due to possible political violence and trade disruption. This product will help Palestinian companies resume or expand their exports, generating additional business and promoting job creation. Critical support has been provided by AIG, Trio Foundation, The Portland Trust, Fried Frank, and individuals contributing on a significant level.
Background

The risk insurance proposal was initiated by President William J. Clinton at the September 2005 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting, and was later advanced at the 2007 CGI annual meeting. From the onset, MEII and NIC played a critical role in the PPRI steering committee, which was guided by the Center for American Progress, AIG, and others. PPRI has received additional support from President George W. Bush, along with political and business leaders from the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Arab countries.

In the pilot stage, OPIC and MEII will reinsure NIC for up to $1 million in political risk insurance for the West Bank and Gaza, with NIC taking a component part of the initial risk. MEII will also provide critical technical support during this period, including providing guidance in areas related to monitoring, marketing, and underwriting, research into the possible reduction of supply chain risks and facilitation of the movement of goods, and technical training assistance. With MEII fundraising efforts, and increased OPIC partnership support in future rounds, PPRI is expected to grow to a $20 million fund, which could make possible exponential growth in Palestinian businesses, exports, and jobs.
Resources

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Marsh
Center for American Progress
National Insurance Company
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Trio Foundation


http://meiinitiative.org/riskinsurance.asp

[bemildred]

14. That was an interesting turn of phrase.

I posted it mostly for the various quoted statements, but that one stood out. Not that any of it is fodder for more than idle speculation.

[vminfla]

9. The Last Time Jews did what the Germans wanted them to do, things got messy

just saying.

Quite frankly, the Germans have no standing. The PA is giving terrorists $5,000 each and building them a house. Clearly, it is time for an austerity program to be implemented.

[oberliner]

10. Germany has been one of Israel's staunches allies over the last 50 years

Just saying.

[vminfla]

12. Good for them, now they must respect ISrael's choice not to fund terrorism

Abbas has demonstrated that he has no problems taking money to promote and fund terrorism by providing cash incentives and housing for terrorists.

[oberliner]

17. They made a request - it was denied

Is there a way to help the Palestinian people without going through the PA (or Hamas)?

[Violet_Crumble]

25. Calling stealing the tax revenue of another government a 'choice not to fund terrorism' is cute...

It's in the same category as things like anti-abortion extremists calling the murder of doctors in the US 'saving babies lives' and other equally cute euphemisms to describe something ugly...

[LeftishBrit]

19. Merkel , although a Conservative, is a million miles from being like Hitler.

and Germany and Israel have been allies for quite some time.

[shaayecanaan]

23. I think the kids from the Beitar youth camp post here...

when they get bored of doing the hokey pokey or bushwalking or whatever. It would explain certain tendencies in syntax, grammar and logic that have recently become prevalent on this board.

[King_David]

26. You a member of Beitar ?

[shaayecanaan]

27. I was expelled for having anti-revolutionary tendencies (nt)

[bemildred]

29. Israel to transfer Palestinian funds held over UNESCO membership bid

Netanyahu, top ministers expected to approve the thawing of $100 million in Palestinian tax money; cabinet to formulate policy regarding sanctions against PA in case of future unilateral moves in the UN.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security-diplomatic cabinet is expected to meet Monday and approve the thaw of $100 million of tax funds Israel had collected for the Palestinian Authority during the month of October, and which were frozen over the Palestinian admission into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to one senior Israeli official, the majority of cabinet ministers are expected for vote for passing the funds over to the PA, as a result of, among other reasons, the security establishment's vehement objection to the continued withholding of Palestinian funds, which the PA uses to pay Palestinian security officials in the West Bank.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-to-transfer-palestinian-funds-held-over-unesco-membership-bid-1.395395