Russian FM Lavrov: Halting aid to Hamas-led PA is a mistake

You have been forwarned for hundreds of years. Read Ezekiel 38 & 39. It WILL come to pass.... Soon.

Did we forget how the Soviets created the Arafat mystique 30 years ago. How they funded the PLO with millions of dollars and established terror training camps for them ? Of course they think it's a mistake. Because if they want their old Jew hating cause to thrive in Gaza, somebody's gonna have to foot the bill. And they certainly aren't gonna come up with the cash. They want the stupid liberal west to do their dirty work. Very old Soviet thinking and a bit behind the times. Aaaah , the days of Brezhnev. They were good times. No?

Don't hold your breath Palestins, you may just die of asphixiation befor starvation.

The USA and the EU have classified Hamas as a terrorist organisation for supporting suicide attacks against innocent civilians and other such unacceptable acts. Therefore, consistent with this view, they are now witholding financial aid to the Hamas regime. Russia seems to be unhappy with this policy and could demonstrate its displeasure by making up the shortfall in funding. But will it? I doubt it. Now Hamas representatives have been sent to Iran with cap in hand, but alas Iran prefers to spend its oil revenues on developing nuclear bombs and missiles than feeding Palestinian children. So, the Palestinians will soon learn that all they are likely to receive from now on are either empty political gestures or weaponry which will backfire on them.

Russia has never provided any humanitarian aid even to its own citizens & it won't to start any time soon. The Russian leaders won't lose any sleep if the Palestinians lose weight. Let's tell the truth: the Arab states flush with petro-dollars should chip in & stop paying lip service. Israel, of course, should collect its cut... oops taxes.

Israel and the US demand free and fair elections. As long as they vote for exactly who we want them to vote for--- other wise, we wont communicate at all, or even send them their own tax money. Boo hoo, we wanted Fatah. We love Fatah because they say we have a right to exist even though they attack us every day. We wont deal with Hamas because they say they dont accept up. Meanwhile, they haven't launched an attack in over two years. My own country disgusts me in its bloodthirsty desire to continue this conflict. For years we've been waiting for Arafat to die to get the peace started. He died. We have nothing to do except bomb Gaza day after day. Disgusting. PATRIOTS BELIEVE IN PEACE!

Why don't they open talks with the Chechnian rebels? This could also help to a settlement. So get lost Russia, you have lost what ever you had before, during the cold war. You are a meaningless player now.

How will they pay for Russian arms without the aid?

Hamas has stated repeatedly that they wish to disengage from Isreal and the west. So we help them achieve that goal. Hamas says they wish for more arab support and will organize demonstrations in arab countries for that. I only hope they burn down the embasseys of their new benifactors as they did the EU. Nothing like a little fire and death threats to make your contribution worth while. And have the Pals ever heard of Ghandi, Mandella, and King,who by using WORDS accomplished more for their people in 25 years, without a single shot, bomb, hanging, suicide, bomb belts, rockets, than the Pals in 60 years. Khalid, why not give non-violance a try. Remember Allah's ten commandments, thou shall not kill. Maybe He's trying to tell you something because the violant way has acheived nothing but total misery for your people. Isreal, Build the wall tall and strong, shell the areas where the rockets come from andPals, ask Mrs. Arafat for some cash.

If the Russians can't take care of their own problems in their own backyard, how can we take advice from them?

I say aid gets returned to the PA, when Russia donated aid to the chechnian cause. I laugh at Russian hypocricy.

Russian FM Lavrov is a moron. Israelis should invite the Chechnyans to Israel and discuss selling them military equipment. Israelis should send aid to Chechnya. I wonder if the Russian would be happy if Israel helped them out.

Either the rest of the world should boycott both Hamas and Israel, or none of them. The EU is quick to suspend aid to the Palestinians, and slow to hold Israel to the terms of the EU-Israel association treaty.

It is time for Pals to undestand that they, like everybody else on this planet suppose to behave in responsible way. Nobody can send them out, but at the SAME REASON nobody can force Jews out. Stop complain, through out your useles deeds and keys, same way, like Jews from Arab country did, and begin build your own country in WB and Gaza. And if you do, you find that your Jewich neuboughrs can privide much better assistense for you than your Arab brothers.

All's fair right? Moslem terrorists are moslem terrorists right? I wonder how hed feel ?

They just simply do not have any moral authority. How can somebody justify funding a terror organization? They are so desperate to ?regain? some influence in the world that they are willing to do anything. Besides, I am still waiting for ?Arabs brothers? to aid Palestinian people??or the billions of dollars they receive are only to build and maintain palaces? It is just amazing, not even they so called brothers want to help the Palestinian but they are outrage because the west cut the funding....

Murdereous and corrupt palestinian got enough dole, time to transfer it to chechens.

Khalid, why do you sound so angry? You have consistently and constantly taken extreme positions on this talk-back. Now you have the extreme government you have always wanted. So why so angry? Did you not realize, like a grown-up, that extremism has consequences. If you don't like Ha'aretz, i suggest you take your readership elsewhere (wouldn't that be great for the rest of us?). At the end of my seder I'll be singing "next year in Jerusalem." Feel free to come join me, haver.

I am shocked to hear that! Shocked, shocked I say! What do you expect from a less than 3rd world country with an ex KGB president? Russia has always acted against the best interests of the US and Israel and this time is no exception.

Khalid -- The wording in the article is correct. Up until now, Israel has been providing substantial aid to the PA, in the form of electric subsidies, fuel supply (without being paid), water (not paid for), export facilities (at NATBG terminal), infrastructure and roads, medical treatments (in Israel), Internet access, and many other valuable services. Israel also intends to CONTINUE providing aid through NGO's and thus preventing the Palestinains from sinking into a humanitarian crisis, despite the official restrictions upon dealing directly with Hamas. Of course, Hamas could quickly move into the realm of political acceptance, by fulfilling a few minor requests of the civilized world (such as renouncing terror).

== Well, since when does Israel give aid to the == Palestinians? Since a long time ago. Regardless of its war againts palestinian terrorism, Israel helps the palestinias in many different spheres. == Israel actually steals Palestinian money, the == tax cuts. Israel is bound to give the palestinians that money according past agreements with them. But since Hamas has stated they are not bound to past agreements, neither Israel is. In any case Israel is not stealing but witholding that money, and is partially used to pay PA debts to Israeli firms.

There won't be any. As far as the Russians are concerned, the Palestinians can go on a diet; it may even do them some good: starving does put things in the right perspective.

This is a win-win situation. They don't want our millions of dollars in aid, then let the arab countries (who want nothing to do with the palestinians except use their cause for political purposes) to give them money to spend on weapons and corruption. But, alas, we know how greedy all arab governments are and talk is talk, but money never quite shows up...

the reports reads "the United States and Israel have also stopped aide to the Palestinians" Well, since when does Israel give aid to the Palestinians? Israel actually steals Palestinian money, the tax cuts.

If the Russians cannot see themselves as others do, that's their affair. Resourcing Iranian nuclear weaponry and protecting them from any consequences. Now trying to say Hamas has some unconditional right to foreign aid on it's own terms. Apparently continued armed resistance by terrorist groups under a Hamas government and receiving aid as the peace process partner PA is OK according to them. Apparently Russia is to the peace process quartet, what the Soviet Union was to the collective security of Eastern Europe as a veto power of the UN. Maybe it's true, if post Tsarist Russia was capitalist, capitalism would have been discredited instead of communism.

This is their agreed position - in the international peace process. All Hamas has to do is say, they will recognise Israel when there is a peace and negotiate with Israel to achieve that peace (this is all the Arab League has done and all they ask of Palestinian "governments"). In return financial committments will be met. The situation is the same for the EU and the Americans - they invested some effort and money in establishing the peace process. The PA government and their financial support for it, is a result of that process. Hamas cannot withdraw from it and expect continued support. If Hamas is unable to meet PA responsibilities, they can agree to new elections and not contest them. I am generally sympathetic to charity to the poor and for aid from rich nation to poor nation, but the funder always sets the terms.

Can anybody tell us how much aid the great humanitarian country of Russia is providing to the Hamas led Palestinian government