OlehGirl.com
Go U.S.!: No Gilad Shalit, No Gaza Aid
A proposal has been made in the U.S. Congress to link the 900 million dollars of aid pledged to Gaza to the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in an undisclosed location without access to the International Red Cross, in contravention of International Law, for nearly 3 years. He was kidnapped in a cross-border raid by Hamas, from within the borders of our country, and several of his mates were murdered in the attack.
I send a personal heartfelt thank you to Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada who drafted a petition to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which demanded that the financial aid be delayed for as long as the rocket fire continues and Gilad remains in captivity.
It should not be the case that we are the only ones placing pressure on Hamas. It should not be the case that the world is willing to simply look the other way while rockets fall daily, many times daily, on our civilians and Shalit is held in captivity and reward a terrorist region and allow them to act with impunity.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Yael on March 5, 2009 at 9:21 pm, and is filed under Israel. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
(Photo by Dani Machlis)
about 1 year ago
It’s about time that Hamas was held accountable for their terrorist actions and that they were made to understand that there are some in the international community who will not support them.
about 1 year ago
I haven’t understood why your Gov’t has agreed give anything until Gilad is released since he was taken. It’s baffled me as to why this wasn’t a top demand on any agreement undertaken from then until now. I hope He is home soon.
about 1 year ago
As an American taxpayer I am outraged enough that any of my money should be given to terrorists, but if at all, then only on this condition.
about 1 year ago
Sir John, I agree. So much money has been sent by many groups, and clearly it is not reaching the people, not bettering their lives. Seems to me that it is spent on weapons to be used against Israel. I’d like for the people of Gaza to be helped but not Hamas to be strengthened.
about 1 year ago
Mrs. H.Clinton is capable enough to decide what is best for the West’s interest.
about 1 year ago
Mongrel, I hope that she is wise enough to encourage the kind of peace that will benefit both the people of Gaza and of Israel. There are two groups’ well-being to consider.
about 1 year ago
It makes me sad to see you too allso to have included the West Bank into this Greater Israel idea.
As for the people of Gaza, it is better for their well being, us not to donate anything at all.
Before you hit the brakes, have a look on the net at Dambisa Moyo, she wrote the book:
Dead Aid-Why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa.
Published by Penguin.
A few months ago there also was a publication about the average age build up amongst it’s inhabitants on the Gaza Strip, very true and helpfull, donations destroy the start of of a healthy country.
about 1 year ago
Mongrel –I’m not sure what you are talking about as far as the West Bank –I don’t believe in Greater Israel at all. I am for a two-state solution which includes the majority of the West Bank (with equivalent land trades for those major settlements like Ariel and Ma’ala Adumim that will remain with us) becoming part of a Palestinian State.
I agree with you primarily about the aid with some exceptions. It is absolutely true that countries do worse when they are aid dependent and it allows for corruption to build in government and promotes a hand-out culture rather than an innovative one. I think this has severely harmed the Palestinians over the past 20 years –in the 70s their economy began to flourish and in the early 80s it was approaching the standard of living in Israel (far above the other Arab countries in the region –and indeed even Gaza is more affluent still today than the average Egyptian) and they were receiving about 1/100th of the international aid they receive today and since the late 80s. On the other hand some aid, wisely given and wisely used (e.g. for establishing industry and decent education), is a different matter and can help jump-start a country/region.
about 1 year ago
The first lines were meant to comment Lynne’s words about mrs. Clinton and the “two groups”.
You know, there actually is another reason why the “no donation at all” would be highly profitable for people in Israel like you, who vote for a two state solution.
Simple.
about 1 year ago
Mongrel — I think Lynne meant as far as the two groups Israelis and Palestinians. She is very much a proponent of a two-state solution and is more liberal on that score even than I am as far as the particulars go.
about 1 year ago
Some time ago did read Austin to be the place for progressive people.
about 1 year ago
I hope Mrs Berkley is successfull, but I have to reserve optimism. History has shown that the Clintons are more interested in getting their name on something that sounds good, and makes them look good on the camera, than actually accomplishing something. But we’ll see…
(If you need a eg, crime bill/assault weapon ban, no effect on crime, and banned nothing).