U.S. taxpayers will shell out a minimum of $550 million on direct financial support to the inept, corrupt and bloodstained government of the Palestinian Authority this year.
The idea is to spur the Palestinian economy, say U.S. officials. They also say a lot more is necessary and will try to tap into private investment capital as well.
That money would do more good for humanity and world peace if it were burned in a bonfire or dumped into the depths of the sea.
The trouble with the Palestinian economy is that the leaders to whom we are extending this largesse destroyed it. They destroyed the once-bustling economy of the region with their institutionalized racism, hatred and religious bigotry – demanding that all Jews leave and making life miserable for the minority Christian population.
Did you know the Palestinian economy was once the envy of the Arab world? That's right. Palestine, with no oil, once boasted the highest standard of living in the oil-rich Arab world. When was that? That was when Israel governed the territories – from 1967 until the misguided, short-sighted policies of appeasement and capitulation won the day in Jerusalem and Washington.
Much of the Palestinian economy, when it was healthy, revolved around tourism – not terrorism. You think anyone wants to visit Bethlehem and Nazareth today? You think anyone wants to visit Gaza or the West Bank? You think anyone wants to vacation with Hamas or the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades?
They have not renounced terrorism, despite conventional wisdom. But they have renounced all forms of tourism in the Palestinian Authority.
So what will this money giveaway buy us?
Will it buy peace?
Will it buy happiness?
Will it buy prosperity?
Will it buy freedom?
Will it buy love?
Of course not. This redistribution of wealth will buy none of those things. In fact, it will buy the opposite.
By giving away massive amounts of money to terrorists, crooks and international shakedown artists, America ensures nothing will change inside the Palestinian Authority. We are subsidizing everything bad that currently takes place there – from jihadist indoctrination to official anti-Semitism to persecution of Christians.
Quite a deal, huh?
What can we do to derail this plan? Not much – at least not for 2008. This is a fait accompli for this year. Most of the money has already been given away.
And, given the political climate and political leadership seeking power in 2009, the situation is likely to get worse in the immediate future.
But now you know the truth.
Now you know one more way your government is stealing from you to prosper the same kind of people our government claims it is warring against.
Now you know what a bad deal this is for everyone involved – you, Israel, even the Palestinian Arabs themselves who are victims of their own ruthless leadership.
Most foreign aid is like this – going into the hands of oppressive government officials rather than the hands of people in need.
I know the situation will not change today or tomorrow. But, maybe – just maybe – if we spread the word to more Americans, they just might catch on to this dangerous scam before it's too late.