Interview with Palestinian finance minister
Jimmy Carter described the punishing of innocent Palestinians through the blocking of all financial support - which is EU/US policy - as a crime. Reports are beginning to emerge of a medical crisis as dwindling supplies and resources begin to kill.
Aljazeera.net interviews the Palestinian Authority (PA) finance minister Omar Abul Razeq, a former professor of finance.
[excerpt]
The US and the EU have said they would resume financial aid if you recognised Israel, disavowed violence and accepted outstanding agreements between Israel and the PA.
Which Israel would you want me to recognise? Is it Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates? Israel with the occupied Golan Heights? Israel with East Jerusalem? Israel with the settlements? I challenge you to tell me where Israel's borders lie. Or do you want to sell me fish in the sea?
...the 1967 borders.
Does Israel recognise the 1967 borders? Can you tell me of one Israeli government that ever voiced willingness to withdraw to the 1967 borders?
Are you prepared to face the possible financial collapse of the PA?
There wouldn't be only a financial collapse, the entire system would collapse. There would be chaos and violence all over the area. In short, not only Hamas would be affected, but everybody else as well. I repeat, everybody else.
Do you think the US, Israel and Europe are interested in seeing the PA collapse?
I don't think so. My impression is that they want to see a weak Palestinian government that would budge to Israeli dictates and American pressure. In short, they want a government that would act like a quisling entity vis-a-vis Israel, a government that would agree to sell out paramount Palestinian rights in return for money and mere survival.
Who do you think would be blamed for the collapse of the PA if and when that happened?
Surely, Israel and the United States. Muslims around the world would view the US as an evil power that is hell bent on harming and tormenting Muslims. Many people would also lose faith in western democracy. Read more
Aljazeera.net interviews the Palestinian Authority (PA) finance minister Omar Abul Razeq, a former professor of finance.
[excerpt]
The US and the EU have said they would resume financial aid if you recognised Israel, disavowed violence and accepted outstanding agreements between Israel and the PA.
Which Israel would you want me to recognise? Is it Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates? Israel with the occupied Golan Heights? Israel with East Jerusalem? Israel with the settlements? I challenge you to tell me where Israel's borders lie. Or do you want to sell me fish in the sea?
...the 1967 borders.
Does Israel recognise the 1967 borders? Can you tell me of one Israeli government that ever voiced willingness to withdraw to the 1967 borders?
Are you prepared to face the possible financial collapse of the PA?
There wouldn't be only a financial collapse, the entire system would collapse. There would be chaos and violence all over the area. In short, not only Hamas would be affected, but everybody else as well. I repeat, everybody else.
Do you think the US, Israel and Europe are interested in seeing the PA collapse?
I don't think so. My impression is that they want to see a weak Palestinian government that would budge to Israeli dictates and American pressure. In short, they want a government that would act like a quisling entity vis-a-vis Israel, a government that would agree to sell out paramount Palestinian rights in return for money and mere survival.
Who do you think would be blamed for the collapse of the PA if and when that happened?
Surely, Israel and the United States. Muslims around the world would view the US as an evil power that is hell bent on harming and tormenting Muslims. Many people would also lose faith in western democracy. Read more
posted by exoplanet at 6:33 PM
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