Light filters through a stained glass partition in a courtyard at 36 rue Colisee, Paris.
A glimmer of light for Palestinians suffering serious economic woes, while Western nations argue about aid obligations versus politics.
The Palestinians will receive aid totaling more than $120m of European Union funds for health services and basic needs. The Quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia have agreed to channel emergency relief funds through the World Bank, bypassing the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
As long as Hamas refuses to recognise Israel and previous peace accords established with the Jewish state, the Quartet has made it clear it will not distribute aid money directly to the government. All previously-scheduled aid was frozen, following Hamas's election earlier this year.
Concerns over a potential humanitarian crisis prompted the latest agreement. In a statement Sunday the Quartet nations endorsed the EU proposal to support local health services, provide fuel supplies and basic needs for poor Palestinians. The statement cautioned that the plan is "limited in scope and duration" and would be reconsidered in three months. The Quartet urged Israel and other international donors to participate in the scheme.
The European Union is considering an additional 100m euros in aid and expects to have the essential funding process operational early in July. For many years, the EU has provided the bulk of aid to the Palestinians, annually donating about 500m euros.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the latest aid is "a step forward." But he warned "the measure cancels the role of the government and cancels the role of the Palestinian Authority." Meanwhile, the Hamas government has referred to the plan as an "affront to democracy," widening the gap "between the people and their government." But what kind of government is Hamas, if it fails to serve its constituency? Hamas has made no move to attempt a compromise solution or to soften its hardline position vis-a-vis Israel and existing peace agreements.
Why is it that while people suffer, help available often boils down to a question of semantics - of what words are acceptable for both sides to move forward? Because while the Quartet appears willing to find "work-arounds" to meet diplomatic standards of acceptability, Hamas is standing firm - stubbornly refusing to bend their harsh rhetoric or budge one iota from their hardline mantra - even as the people they were elected to serve are forced to sell off personal belongings to buy food. Where is the humanity here? What's more important - people going hungry, coping without adequate medical care and supplies - or a fledgling government's pride?
policies are complicated. politics are complicated. human suffering is not. if governments considered the human race above all self-serving efforts maybe this would be less complicated to them. i feel "the gap between (the) people and their government." is dangerously widespread these days even outside the palestinian state. on a side note. why does this funding have to go through the World Bank? Isn't that just another effort to have a country indebted to the World Bank. I am not sure how the World Bank works... but aid should be just that "aid". humanity is humanity. I may be misinterpreting how that "aid" works. But... Yes. these people need relief.
Posted by: jojo | 20 June 2006 at 02:44
Clearly one of the biggest problems in the Middle East is this old-fashioned machismo and inability of compromising. Everyone fears "looking weak."
Posted by: Neil | 19 June 2006 at 03:05
Catalina, certainly there are no blameless parties in this decades-long confict. But the way things stand at the moment, Hamas is refusing to consider compromise, even while the Palestinians are suffering. Without compromise, nothing happens in a conflict so riddled with emotion and strife. Both the Palestinians and Israelis learned this through many agonizing years of war. The Hamas leadership seems stuck in the mindset of 1948, with its refusal to recognize Israel and previous peace accords reached (at great costs on both sides) between Israel and the Palestinians.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 18 June 2006 at 22:45
we overthink, over evaluate, over react to simple situations and twist them into
such complex dilemmas...
Posted by: diana | 18 June 2006 at 22:41
Very interesting post Tara, words have been always a problem to resolve this conflict. Let's not forget also Israel gouverment attacks to palestinians. And palestinians kamikazes.
Posted by: Catalina | 18 June 2006 at 22:26
Pride and Power versus the People. It's the same everywhere!
Posted by: jzr | 18 June 2006 at 21:37
woops forgot to tell you!
Gorgeous photo...I love windows and doors and am always photographing them :-)
Posted by: susanlavonne | 18 June 2006 at 19:59
According the The Post (Washington, of course :-) Isreal is sitting on 55 million (USD)a month in tax revenue since Hamas took office...he wants an Islamic state on all of Isreal and it appears as though he will literally stare people out in order to get it.
Posted by: susanlavonne | 18 June 2006 at 19:58