Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Elder of Ziyon
These numbers are probably not complete yet.
Country Amount Pledged Turkey $500,000 Germany $11,000,000 Bahrain $50,000 Austria $2,770,000 Luxemburg $3,000,000 European Community €66,000,000 Netherlands $15,900,000 United Arab Emirates $1,000,000 Switzerland 11,000,000 SwF Italy $15,000,000 China $80,000 Kuwait $1,500,000 Norway 150,000,000 NKr Holy See $20,000 United States $90,000,000 Denmark $18,000,000 Oman $25,000 Spain €2,600,000 Finland €3,000,000 Egypt $10,000 Ireland $5,500,000 Iceland $300,000
As in the past, the amounts that Arab nations give to UNRWA are a pittance. Egypt, Oman and Bahrain only give token amounts, and the combined Arab contribution announced is smaller than those of Ireland or Austria. It appears that Arab concern towards their Palestinian brethren shows itself in paying for terrorist weapons and the families of "martyrs" and not so much in providing things like food and jobs.
Keep in mind also that the Gulf is now awash with cash because of inflated oil prices, taking in net profits of some $5 billion every week, going on world shopping sprees of real-estate, banks and other blue-chip stocks. Not only could they bankroll all of UNRWA easily; they could build an Arab Palestine-in-exile in the underpopulated Gulf and provide free permanent housing to every PalArab who desires to move there.
But keeping them in miserable camps fits in with their strategy. Happy, contented Palestinian Arabs do not.
