Stimuli for Everyone

Even Hamas, er, Gaza gets some
Feb. 25, 2009

While the U.S. continues to create more stimuli, the administration is considering a $900 million package to stimulate the Gaza economy and its former skyline. The package, which needs congressional approval, purports to strengthen the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which is nowhere near Gaza.

In fact, anyone representing the political party of the PA, Fatah, has already been shot in the knee caps or thrown off a building by Hamas. So how it will strengthen PA President Mahmoud Abbas remains a mystery.

“This money is for Gaza and to help strengthen the Palestinian Authority. It is not going to go to Hamas,” said the official, who asked not to be named as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton planned to announce the funding at a donors’ conference in Egypt next week.

Even better! The UN, whose facilities were used as Hamas firing positions and whose supplies were hijacked by Hamas, will get to distribute the money.

Reuters: The United States wants Abbas’s PA to play a central role in the reconstruction effort in Gaza, hoping this will increase its influence in the Hamas stronghold. Washington is also putting pressure on other donors to bolster Abbas.

“We call on donor countries to focus their pledges to meet the Palestinian Authority’s priorities, including budget support, and on projects that can be funded through the Palestinian Authority and other existing, trusted mechanisms,” said a State Department official.

From blogger Jules Crittenden: Well, if that’s what they wanted, Obama should have got on the phone with Olmert last month and said, “Don’t stop.”