In effect, Europe is subsidising the Palestinian war

Submitted by alvin day (Israel), May 30, 2010 at 07:58

>The materialist Europeans can imagine no passion so great as acquiring material goods and so have no notion how to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict except through bribes. It's not going to work, says I.

Well, yes and no. On the face of it, this sounds true, even obvious.
Yet had Europe and America announced they're completely cutting off all aid to Gaza once the Hamas was elected and took over, the Palestinians would've been stunned. They'd have kicked the biggest temper tantrum, warning they'll starve if deprived of aid. If Europe and America would've stood firm, hunger would've become a realistic prospect and the Palestinians, after living in denial for a while, once hunger edged its way and starvation was just around the corner, would have had to face up to the fact that they don't have enough money to finance a war.
If the choice would be between being peaceful and receiving aid and between choosing war and having no money left for food or for war, they'd choose the former (at least until things change). We'd have seen mass protests calling "Hamas out!".
Unfortunately, there was never a realistic chance that the West would cease to fund the warring Palestinian people. The West was (and remains) far too scared to do so. In effect (and not really in intent) they're funding the Palestinian war-effort, enabling the Palestinians to focus a great deal of energy on their war without having to worry about focusing their attention inwards at building a functioning economy.

The mass of the Palestinians are perfectly happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with the suicide bombers. They'll applaud their martyrdom, not their own.

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