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Last update - 00:00 12/03/2006
The humanitarian aid legend
By Zvi Bar'el
 

The jaw drops to mid-throat in amazement when one hears politicians and commentators speaking about "humanitarian programs" or the cosmic question of "whither the road map?" For a moment it seems that the nation's leaders really are divided in two: those who are very troubled by the slow progress of some political plan's final stages, and those who are very busy shaping a non-plan to foil the plan of the first group. Both are leaning heavily on the successful situation that has fallen into their hands: Hamas rule enables the proponents of a political plan to determine there is no partner, so we can go with the unilateral plan; and the opponents of that plan, on the other hand, are marketing an "Iron Wall" as a means to prevent Hamas from getting stronger - meaning there is nothing to say about a political plan.

The interesting thing is that both groups speak of "Hamas' weakness," "blocking it," "jailing it" as if there had not been elections in the territories and as if the Palestinian public did not give that organization its full support. The assumption, made by both Amir Peretz and Benjamin Netanyahu, by Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni, is that there is a magical equation: Economic pressure on the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority will lead to a backlash against the Hamas by Palestinian civilians. Palestinian democracy, the same democracy that elected Hamas, will give birth to new elections in another two years, Hamas will be thrown out and then the PA will be headed by a worthy "partner." Such dreams accompanied all sanctions ever imposed on a regime: The American sanctions on Iran were supposed to end in a pro-Western democratic regime; the sanctions against Iraq were supposed to lead to a rebellion that would yield a liberal-green leader; the sanctions against Sudan were meant to replace the Sharia regime with a republican one. The latest dream was in Lebanon when Israel believed, while it was still an occupier, that violent pressure on the civilians would lead to a change in their attitude toward Hezbollah. While this Israeli dream inspires ridicule (and horror, considering the depth of its stupidity), along comes another wonderful expression: "humanitarian aid." It is clear to those who support the "siege plan" that until the dream of the Palestinian revolt against its leadership takes place, the Palestinians must think well of Israel; otherwise, in another "two to three years" the Palestinians might elect the Islamic Jihad. That's the job of "humanitarian aid": Truckloads of food can go into Gaza and the West Bank towns, but the money earned from work and services is not allowed into Gaza or, as long as it is possible, into the West Bank. Those who need food or medicine can pick it up at pickup points.

But whoever happens to read a report published by an American aid agency last week might worry about the plausibility - let alone possibility - of implementing this plan. The report says that between January 15 and February 4, the Karni junction was closed, and it was closed again after February 21. Those who read the tales of trials and tribulations getting from one town to another in the West Bank, as detailed by Amira Hass in Haaretz, understand that there can be no other meaning to the term "humanitarian aid."
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And why not? Even when Saddam Hussein was in power, there was a food and medicine program. That's the trap in the equation of those who believe there is a future without Hamas. Because Israel's problem is not Hamas, strong or weak; the problem is with the Palestinian people, who chose it. They have to be changed or eliminated if one wants quiet - that is the problem with this public. Israel has been through two intifadas with them, one "white," the other "red"; one known for its rocks, the other for its suicide attacks. Both emerged from a population that refused to make do with "humanitarian aid" or "political generosity." The first ended with the Oslo Accords, the second with much less, the hudna (cease-fire). If we had to guess on a psychometric exam the character of the third intifada, it's doubtful anyone would make a mistake. But as usual with us, we'll never know until it's tried.
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  1.   Palestinians 09:05  |  Michael T 12/03/06
  2.   Don`t worry, give them a time 09:44  |  Marx 12/03/06
  3.   Problem with Palestinians? I think they are quite normal. 10:13  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  4.   The problem is indeed Palestinian society 10:23  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 12/03/06
  5.   They have to be changed or eliminated if one wants quiet 10:41  |  Hanen in Paris 12/03/06
  6.   Sameer, a people who generate suicid bombers cannot be "normal" 10:46  |  Shlomo 12/03/06
  7.   Don`t worry.Hamas will take them to jordan.the real palestinstate 10:54  |  e.m 12/03/06
  8.   normal palestinians 10:55  |  JaN 12/03/06
  9.   3000 dead people 11:09  |  JaN 12/03/06
  10.   Shlomo, a people who murder pregnant women on their way to ... 11:23  |  Palestinian 12/03/06
  11.   Shlomo 11:24  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  12.   North and East (re #7) 11:26  |  JW 12/03/06
  13.   #3.Sameer.The normal palestinains are suicide bombers. 11:27  |  e.m 12/03/06
  14.   No one is better than the other 11:27  |  Julia 12/03/06
  15.   REAL PROBLEM 11:33  |  CHONI 12/03/06
  16.   Sameer and Palestinian, you were one of these kids full of hatred 11:42  |  Shlomo 12/03/06
  17.   #14.Julia:No one is better than the other. 11:58  |  e.m 12/03/06
  18.   Shlomi is 100 % right 12:05  |  Jan 12/03/06
  19.   Lies? Shlomo 12:06  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  20.   #14 JULIA 12:12  |  Tony Price 12/03/06
  21.   The problem with the Palestinians , they refuse to disappear 12:30  |  El-Birawi 12/03/06
  22.   PALESTINIANS 12:41  |  DENNIS 12/03/06
  23.   Man`s nature 12:50  |  Tom 12/03/06
  24.   It is the people allright. 12:58  |  TonyL 12/03/06
  25.   # 14 13:03  |  Tom 12/03/06
  26.   El-Birawi #21 13:18  |  TonyL 12/03/06
  27.   Hamas,it seems, will deepen the hatred further 13:28  |  Shalom Freedman 12/03/06
  28.   #17 e.m. 13:43  |  Julia 12/03/06
  29.   The Murderers Next Door 14:29  |  Jane 12/03/06
  30.   normal palestinians 14:33  |  danny 12/03/06
  31.   to no 10 a palestinian. 14:37  |  danny 12/03/06
  32.   Palestinian decision-making 14:59  |  JJ Doyle 12/03/06
  33.   one sided fool 15:11  |  jerome 12/03/06
  34.   oppression 15:27  |  jerome 12/03/06
  35.   Jerome: What are these kids doing in that area? 15:41  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  36.   Sameer, stop with your lies, I know exactly what`s going on... 15:49  |  Shlomo 12/03/06
  37.   E.M 15:54  |  Gabe1 12/03/06
  38.   Choni`s real problem 15:54  |  Frantz 12/03/06
  39.   El Birawi #21 16:00  |  Gabe1 12/03/06
  40.   sameer 16:03  |  Raz Telchai 12/03/06
  41.   Jane #29 16:07  |  Gabe1 12/03/06
  42.   sameer 16:09  |  Raz Telchai 12/03/06
  43.   Sameer 16:09  |  Gabe1 12/03/06
  44.   El-Birawi 16:12  |  Frantz 12/03/06
  45.   #3 Copy this!!! 16:31  |  Flattered 12/03/06
  46.   A challenge to #10 Palestinian (and everyone else) 16:38  |  Ben Torah 12/03/06
  47.   Poor Raz 16:49  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  48.   RAZ 16:52  |  Smeer 12/03/06
  49.   #46 Ben Torah or Ben Shor 17:22  |  Bar Papa 12/03/06
  50.   Killing 17:35  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  51.   #47&48 17:40  |  Raz Telchai 12/03/06
  52.   #46, Ben Torah, The Challenge 17:42  |  Fritz 12/03/06
  53.   Into Irrelevancy 17:45  |  Scrolls 12/03/06
  54.   Ben Torah, Rav Elyahu issued such an edict 17:50  |  Palestinian 12/03/06
  55.   Ben Torah, Rav Elyahu issued such an edict 17:50  |  Palestinian 12/03/06
  56.   Raz 17:57  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  57.   The Palestinian pattern (part 1) 18:03  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  58.   The Palestinian pattern (part 2) 18:11  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  59.   #46, Ben Torah, The Challenge, Part II 18:25  |  Fritz 12/03/06
  60.   Innocent?!!! 18:28  |  Sameer 12/03/06
  61.   ...to El Birawi...they refused to disaper...clean Gaza..strategy? 18:33  |  UGY the she camel 12/03/06
  62.   scrolls..and you sink into ignorance and frustration 18:45  |  Palestinian 12/03/06
  63.   humanitarian aid to the arabs 18:53  |  peter 12/03/06
  64.   Jordanian #10 18:55  |  peter 12/03/06
  65.   #11 Sameer 18:56  |  Sam 12/03/06
  66.   #60 Sameer 19:01  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  67.   There is no partner for peace 19:09  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  68.   #62 Palestinian - Another severe case of futile denial 19:11  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  69.   *Pal* elections: the *Pals* have chosen terror 19:14  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  70.   #59 Fritz 19:14  |  Sam 12/03/06
  71.   to Palestinian...about Palestine People growing... 19:17  |  anylo 12/03/06
  72.   Sameer, you are pityful citing Talmud 19:36  |  Shlomo 12/03/06
  73.   Economic sanctions 19:49  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  74.   Not matter what the *Pals* choose 19:57  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  75.   Fritz #59 and Ben Torah`s challenge 19:59  |  peter 12/03/06
  76.   #70, Sam 20:11  |  Fritz 12/03/06
  77.   #1 (pt.1) The ZIONIST Pattern (re INNOCENT BYSTANDER) 20:23  |  unprintable 12/03/06
  78.   Problems with Palestinians 20:24  |  Jon 12/03/06
  79.   Land theives (to Shlomo, Henen and their likes) 20:25  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  80.   LEADERS ARISE FROM THE PEOPLE 20:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/03/06
  81.   #76 Fritz again 20:40  |  Sam 12/03/06
  82.   Humanitarian aid and Amira Hass 20:50  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  83.   fritz revisit 20:51  |  peter 12/03/06
  84.   #77 and 79 The arab Pattern 20:51  |  Sam 12/03/06
  85.   To Am Haaretz Fritz and like... 20:54  |  Ben Torah 12/03/06
  86.   Peter, THE TORAH IS THE BASIS OF MORALITY 20:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/03/06
  87.   Proud Arab 21:00  |  You are wrong 12/03/06
  88.   Proud Arab 21:06  |  Proud Zionist 12/03/06
  89.   yes its the palestinians 21:08  |  third world goy 12/03/06
  90.   Gabe1 21:10  |  e.m 12/03/06
  91.   proud arab 21:10  |  alan 12/03/06
  92.   21 el-birawi 21:15  |  alan 12/03/06
  93.   Peter, don`t deceive the people here 21:15  |  student of Talmud 12/03/06
  94.   Ben Torah, you are practicing "evasion mechanism" 21:19  |  Studen to Talmud 12/03/06
  95.   you r the fool Sameer 21:20  |  jerome marks 12/03/06
  96.   Sam #84 21:22  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  97.   # 87 21:31  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  98.   3Sameer:*Problem with Palestinians?I think they are quite normal 21:31  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  99.   Alan 21:38  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  100.   21 El-Birawi :Problem with *Pals*:they want Israel to disappear 21:41  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  101.   #89 Yes, INDEED, it`s the pals 21:43  |  Sam 12/03/06
  102.   #87 YOU are wrong. THE HISTORY & MORAL RIGHTS OF PALESTINE 21:43  |  unprintable 12/03/06
  103.   Proud Zionist 21:43  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  104.   #77 unprintable 21:46  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  105.   message to proud arab 21:52  |  third world goy 12/03/06
  106.   Smeer # 48 "Sameer" perhaps... 21:55  |  bbl 12/03/06
  107.   #93, student of Talmud 22:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/03/06
  108.   This is *Pal* problem 22:07  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 12/03/06
  109.   Proud Arab #79 how true 22:08  |  bbl 12/03/06
  110.   ...to Proud Arab...speaking about THIEVES... 22:11  |  abraham...mico 12/03/06
  111.   proud arab 22:14  |  ALAN 12/03/06
  112.   99 proud arab 22:18  |  alan 12/03/06
  113.   #96 arab History Revisionism 22:18  |  Sam 12/03/06
  114.   Student of Talmud -- fire your teacher 22:19  |  bbl 12/03/06
  115.   This a totally corrupt . . . . 22:35  |  Theou 12/03/06
  116.   Alan 22:36  |  Proud Arab 12/03/06
  117.   Proud Arab -- Refute Sam #84, please 22:39  |  bbl 12/03/06
  118.   Ba(bbl)ing along #114 22:46  |  Bar Papa 12/03/06
  119.   #44 Only Solution: Liquidate "Israel" 22:47  |  Galilean 12/03/06
  120.   Shape up, Shlomo ! 22:48  |  Carl 12/03/06
  121.   Proud Arab -- Demographics 22:48  |  bbl 12/03/06
  122.   unprintable -- How So? 22:52  |  bbl 12/03/06
  123.   ...to#105...Johanes Frainsane, you return!!! 22:52  |  The 72... 12/03/06
  124.   Racist jewish state is the problem 22:52  |  HONE HEKE 12/03/06
  125.   50 Year Wait 22:59  |  Yoram 12/03/06
  126.   Sameer 23:08  |  Carl 12/03/06
  127.   ...to Proud Arab...really Palestine means intruder...? 23:12  |  UGY the she camel 12/03/06
  128.   #99 - Arab from Amman - nothing to be proud of 23:14  |  Chanah 12/03/06
  129.   #117 and #84, sure I will 23:17  |  yezmar 12/03/06
  130.   Goy # 105 23:19  |  Chanah 12/03/06
  131.   Kim is really up and over the wall 23:19  |  Carl 12/03/06
  132.   Kim, you live in California, right ? 23:24  |  Carl 12/03/06
  133.   Kim, you`re still off 23:30  |  Carl 12/03/06
  134.   Student of talmud (laughable) 23:31  |  Ben Torah 12/03/06
  135.   Nr 87 23:33  |  Carl 12/03/06
  136.   #4: Shlomo from Tel Aviv 23:34  |  Nadir 12/03/06
  137.   Thanks Jerome 23:35  |  Carl 12/03/06
  138.   you`re no student of the talmud #93 23:37  |  peter 12/03/06
  139.   Kim again - showing his ignorance 23:39  |  Carl 12/03/06
  140.   Proud Arab 23:40  |  Proud Zionist 12/03/06
  141.   #117 BBL: #102 already refutes SAM #84 -- #84 intended (not #87) 23:45  |  unprintable 12/03/06
  142.   unprintable #87 take your meds 23:51  |  peter 12/03/06
  143.   116 proud arab 23:53  |  alan 12/03/06
  144.   On "unnecessary" checkpoints 23:58  |  Innocent bystander 12/03/06
  145.   VOTING BY FOOT 23:59  |  MARK 12/03/06
  146.   Suffering for the sins of their fathers 00:15  |  ivan 13/03/06
  147.   #122 Carl - Hamas a la carte 00:16  |  Innocent bystander 13/03/06
  148.   122Carl and 123. 00:19  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 13/03/06
  149.   THe Problem with Israelis is they refuse to lose wars 00:21  |  PETER SM 13/03/06
  150.   #120 The Ignorance of yezmer 00:22  |  Sam 13/03/06
  151.   #120 should be #129 The Ignorance of yezmer 00:29  |  Sam 13/03/06
  152.   139Carl-Khalid: if they suffered, they would stop terror 00:29  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 13/03/06
  153.   #104 Innocent Bystander 00:31  |  unprintable 13/03/06
  154.   #154 Right of Return 00:44  |  Sam 13/03/06
  155.   124HONE HEKE: Supremacist Islamofascists is the problem 00:47  |  Kim. UP THE WALL 13/03/06
  156.   #153 unprintable 00:48  |  Innocent bystander 13/03/06
  157.   to #105 Johanes Franzen...you lost... 00:55  |  UGY the she camel 13/03/06
  158.   This can`t be right!!! 00:57  |  Innocent bystander 13/03/06
  159.   The Real Problem 01:11  |  Michael Cohen 13/03/06
  160.   proud arab 01:25  |  eve 13/03/06
  161.   TO The "Galileean" 01:34  |  Dan 13/03/06
  162.   It`s about powerful nationalism 01:34  |  bruce 13/03/06
  163.   #158.Probably is :-) Re this can`t be right!!!,Innocent Bystander 01:46  |  unprintable 13/03/06
  164.   problem no problem 02:14  |  William Smith 13/03/06
  165.   One Good Palestinian 02:19  |  Michelle 13/03/06
  166.   # 3 Sameer. Problems,problems.Never stops...... 02:23  |  S 13/03/06
  167.   # 20 Tony Price.re:#14 Julia.IT IS NOT A MATTER INFERIOR,BUT..... 02:32  |  S 13/03/06
  168.   #156 Innocent Bystander, you may be surprised at my views 02:35  |  unprintable 13/03/06
  169.   # 43 Gabe 1.AGREED ON ALL POINTS.THANK YOU... 02:37  |  S 13/03/06
  170.   Unusually clear-headed 02:43  |  BTL 13/03/06
  171.   Studen to Talmud (#94), Der Sturmer edition 03:11  |  Puregoldj 13/03/06
  172.   # 88 Proud Zionist.re:Proud Arab.WELL SAID. 03:16  |  S 13/03/06
  173.   #162, No it is not "about powerful nationalism" 03:37  |  Bruce 13/03/06
  174.   unprintable`s 168 03:39  |  bruce 13/03/06
  175.   # 86 Cipora Julianna Kohn.re:Peter.and MY SMALL ADDENDUM..... 03:46  |  S 13/03/06
  176.   # 86 Cipora Julianna Kohn.re:Peter.and MY SMALL ADDENDUM..... 03:46  |  S 13/03/06
  177.   "Hone Heke" the Palestinians would not sign a Treaty 04:06  |  bruce 13/03/06
  178.   Puregoldj #171 and Purebiasj 04:09  |  Bar Papa 13/03/06
  179.   #175, answer to S 04:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/03/06
  180.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 04:22  |  Gina 13/03/06
  181.   THERE IS NO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, IT IS A MYTH 04:28  |  MEIR WEINSTEIN 13/03/06
  182.   Capital B`s #173 04:33  |  bruce 13/03/06
  183.   I said it all along 04:38  |  C. C. 13/03/06
  184.   humanitarian aid legend 05:00  |  mordechai 13/03/06
  185.   S 05:05  |  Gina 13/03/06
  186.   #180, answer to Gina; I hope this helps 06:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/03/06
  187.   Arabs Should Emigrate 06:56  |  Vincent E. Neuman, 13/03/06
  188.   Bar Papa has david duke as talmud teacher 07:10  |  peter 13/03/06
  189.   Sammer you are wrong 07:14  |  Mark Bernadiner 13/03/06
  190.   Cipora 07:21  |  peter 13/03/06
  191.   TO TonyL 07:28  |  Steve Beikirch 13/03/06
  192.   Cipora Julianna Kohn -- Thanks 07:46  |  Gina 13/03/06
  193.   Palestinians 08:44  |  Peppy 13/03/06
  194.   as wily coyote would say..."populationous ignoramous" 09:19  |  stanley k 13/03/06
  195.   #100.KIM, the problem with Israel is they want PALS 2 disappear 09:41  |  stanley k 13/03/06
  196.   The real problem is aggressive zionism 10:26  |  John 13/03/06
  197.   lecons from history 11:47  |  Saba 13/03/06
  198.   ...to Sava 15:51  |  israeli people 13/03/06
  199.   #10 -- Here Here! 22:04  |  Dale 13/03/06
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