One year ago, the United States and the European Union decided to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority after Palestinians elected Hamas, a U.S. and E.U.-designated terrorist organization, to lead their government. Now, it turns out, Western sources, including the U.S. government, have actually put more money into the West Bank and Gaza since Hamas took over than in previous years.
What happened to Western resolve not to legitimate a bloodthirsty gang of pseudo-politicians who are committed to wiping Israel off the map?
In 2005, the U.S. gave about $400 million in aid to Palestinians directly and indirectly through United Nations refugee agencies, according to recent press reports. In 2006, that amount went up to $468 million. And the E.U. and its member countries gave Palestinians about $916 million in 2006, not counting what they gave through U.N. agencies, up from $711 million in 2005.
U.S. and European officials claim that the increases don't constitute support for the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority since the aid goes directly to individuals or is distributed by international organizations and aid groups.
The idea behind the Western embargo of the P.A. was that Hamas' support among Palestinians would fall if the Islamist political party couldn't deliver services. Some Western governments also hoped that a cut-off in aid -- without which the P.A. cannot effectively operate -- would pressure Hamas leaders to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
But some cautioned that an aid embargo would backfire if the suffering of the Palestinian people increased -- so the U.S. and the E.U. began funneling money through international agencies and private aid groups.
The policy hasn't worked. Hamas is no less militant or violent than ever. Much of the violence recently has been aimed at fighting the rival Fatah movement, which has resulted in more than 100 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since December.
And despite the recent agreement on a unity government between Hamas and Fatah, Hamas leaders remain committed to eliminating the state of Israel, which the group not only doesn't recognize but can't even bear to name.
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