http://www.newmediajournal.us/international/0610b.htm
Barack Obama pledged $400 million in aid to Gaza and the West Bank yesterday, calling on Israel to reconsider its “unsustainable” blockade on the Hamas-run territory.
The US President’s comments, coming after a meeting with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, were the clearest sign yet that Washington is reconsidering its support for the blockade after Israel’s commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship. Mr. Obama called the raid a tragedy and said it was time for a better approach to deal with the situation in Gaza than the blockade, which Israel insists is essential to stop the flow of supplies to Hamas’s military machine.
“It’s important that we get all the facts,” Mr. Obama said of the raid. But he added: “What we also know is that the situation in Gaza is unsustainable.” ...
Concern is growing in Washington, however, that the blockade is becoming untenable; succeeding only in garnering support for Hamas and damaging any prospects of progress towards a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.
Yesterday, Mr. Obama sought to bolster Mr. Abbas by crediting the new US aid package — most of it earmarked for the rebuilding of Gaza’s infrastructure — to his “advocacy and guidance”.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have been angered by the White House’s refusal to join the global chorus of condemnation against Israel’s raid and its success in watering down a UN Security Council resolution on the incident – moves that could further weaken Mr. Abbas.
In a statement the White House said that the package represented “a down-payment on the United States’ commitment to Palestinians in Gaza, who deserve a better life and expanded opportunities, and the chance to take part in building a viable, independent state of Palestine, together with those who live in the West Bank”.
Mr. Obama predicted “real progress” in the coming months towards the resumption of long-suspended direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. Israel has said it is willing to resume talks but the Palestinians have demurred, insisting that illegal settlement construction must halt first.
Mr. Obama had been expected to push Mr. Abbas on returning to negotiations, but in his comments he was careful to put the onus on both sides, reiterating that Israel must curb illegal settlement construction while the Palestinians must work to deliver security guarantees.
Editor's Note: This is either a stunningly naive move or a move that demonstrates that Pres. Obama is pro-Hamas. Only the intellectually challenged could believe that any and all aid to the Hamas-run Gaza doesn't end up being used or leveraged for weapons, armaments and para-military and terrorist operations. In effect, as Pres. Obama and the United Nations pressures Israel into ceding its sovereignty and its right to defend itself, they are funding violent jihad at the hands of Hamas. Freedom-loving people from everywhere should stop the charade and start asking the tough questions: If the Hamas charter calls for the elimination of Israel as a nation, how can they be a legitimate partner? Where has all the Gazan aid delivered to date gone? Why is a terrorist organization trusted to honestly enjoin in anything?
