The European Union has been rattling Israel with threats against the occupation for months. Now it is going even further, with an unnamed official threatening to cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority in comments to the Associated Press:
“the EU cannot fund the Israeli occupation anymore. Israel needs to be responsible for its occupation. This means no more EU money to the PA.”
It is common on the left to hear the PA described as stooges for the occupation. Now the EU is evidently beginning to reflect this analysis. This is a significant development.
From the Associated Press‘s Tia Goldenberg:
In another threat meant to spur the sides toward a deal, an EU official said Europe would tell the Palestinians on Tuesday it would cut aid off to the Palestinian Authority, which relies on donor funding to function. But such a move would hurt Israel more than the Palestinians, since it would leave Israel responsible for the fate of some 2.5 million Palestinians living under military occupation.
“If there is no deal, the EU cannot fund the Israeli occupation anymore. Israel needs to be responsible for its occupation. This means no more EU money to the PA,” said the official, who requested anonymity because he was discussing private diplomatic matters. The official did not say when the funds might be cut off and it was not clear how concrete the threat was.
Europe has become increasingly vocal over the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians.
Last week, EU auditors recommended that the bloc should stop paying the salaries of Palestinian civil servants in Gaza who haven’t worked since Hamas seized the territory from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007, leaving him with only the West Bank. Abbas decided at the time to keep paying their salaries, on condition they stay home and not work for the Hamas government. The practice is a key tool for Abbas to maintain political support in Gaza and counter Hamas’ efforts to deepen its control.
Then I suggest that the EU fully boycott Israel. (If it’s the Occupation that they can’t abide.) Who is causing the “stalemate” anyway?
Besides, under international law the OCCUPIER is responsible to and for the protection the Occupied.
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/634kfc.htm
But then again, when has Israel ever adhered to any international laws?
The removal of salaries would shake up West Bank, no question. Would Palestinian Police cooperate with Occupying Forces in keeping the peace? Or would Israel have to, like during Intifadas, call out reserves to keep natives quiet?
Palestinians in West Bank are not as corralled as Palestinians in Gaza. Keeping them quiet on a diet of 1056 calories and 3 hours of electricity a day may not be so easy. And strives of pro-Palestinian movement mean that any unrest will be difficult to be sold to the world and even USA as terrorism.
On the other hand, the move can trigger the action of concentrating Palestinians to 2-3 bantustans from currently unmanageable 167.
What a joke. Unnamed officials issuing vague threats with zero political backing, threats that run counter to everything they have said, done and tried to achieve over the past few years. Sure, it’s great stuff for the Mondos to chew on but it has no basis in reality.
Interesting, but I do not hold my breath. Interesting because concerning the limited news I watch over here, one thing struck me when I actually did in special contexts, we always are told that Israel withholds money but we are never told to what extend our taxes sustain the occupation exercise. In other words I am assuming that most Germans think that Israel supports the “Arab village”.
I’m not sure how cutting off aid to the PA is supposed to hurt Israel. The reason for the aide to the PA was that European countries wanted to be able to show their level of influence on the ground for domestic reasons. I don’t see why 2006 wouldn’t repeat if they intend to cut off aide. This also relieves a lot of pressure in Europe to take more hostile action. So sounds like a good thing to me on balance.
It will be interesting to see how Israel responds given a freer hand, a carrot as well as a stick. Do they for example create huge economic disparities between various areas in the West Bank to encourage internal migrations and break up social structures? Do they try and setup some sort of town level governments like Ariel Sharon advocated? In the mid 2000s there was a lot of talk in Israel in funding civil war in Gaza. Would they still want this or are they content with the situation? Opens up lots of possibilities for Israel.