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Middle East
Paleo NGO’s wail and gnash teeth over aid conditions
2004-01-06
Followup, some fun quotes here. EFL.
Palestinian aid groups have refused to accept money from the U.S. government because of a requirement they sign a pledge the money would not be used for terrorism, organizers said Monday.
More on yesterday's report form WND...
The U.S. Agency for International Development has given Palestinian groups $1.3 billion too much in the past decade and is a key source of funding for the cash-strapped organizations. But USAID enacted the anti-terrorism pledge requirement at the end of 2002 for new grants given worldwide. The Non-Governmental Organization Network, an umbrella group that includes 89 Palestinian aid and terrorist groups, is leading the effort against signing the document. Many Palestinian aid groups have refused to sign, arguing it allows the United States to determine what is a terrorist organization. They also fear that they might unwittingly fund projects of some of the 25 groups that the USAID identifies as terrorists like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Paleos may do any number of unwitting things, but handling money ain’t one of them.
"Identifying most of the Palestinian factions as terrorist groups is unacceptable," said Siam Rashid of the NGO network. "The other issue is that any activity could be identified as a terrorist activity."
Splodydopes? Yep, that’s one of ’em. We got more.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, which used to receive about $300,000 a year in aid, refused to sign and gave up its funding, said deputy director Faiq Hussein. "We would like to take funds from them, but without any conditions," Hussein said.
This guy could work for the U.N.!
On Monday, the NGO network held meetings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to urge members to continue the protest and to inform them about alternative funding - such as through Europe and Japan, which don’t require similar pledges.
Eunuchs are a lost cause on this one, but perhaps GWB could have a talk with Koizumi?
A few Palestinian towns and aid groups, desperate for funds, have signed the USAID document, but they have done so quietly for fear of negative reaction.
Think "collaborator" might be a word they’ll use on you?
USAID spokeswoman Monica Pataki said the organization has not decided how to deal with the Palestinian refusal.
Take your time, Monica, let’s settle North Korea first.
And take care of that rain forest thing. And we need peace and stability in the Congo...
Posted by:Steve White

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