Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' want cash, not medicine

This should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been watching the 'Palestinian Authority' for any length of time. Nevertheless, to see it in such stark terms is a wake-up call.

Channel 10 (the cable channel) reported last night on its newscast that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch yesterday that the 'Palestinians' had refused an offer of NIS 50 million in medicines and demanded cash out of 'their' tax money instead.

The World Health Organization (WHO) failed to convince the 'Palestinians' to accept the medicines.

Several weeks ago, Israel asked the WHO to approach the 'Palestinians' in a bid to clarify which hospitals needed medical equipment and medications in order to purchase them with the money in its possession.

WHO representatives recently got back to Israel, saying that the Palestinians were not interested in receiving the medications. According to the representatives, the Palestinians are interested in cash for 'their own needs.'

Israeli defense officials said that "the Palestinians' stance reveals that there is no real health crisis in the PA and that they are trying to use the money for other needs."

And what might those needs be? I think that all of us know the answer to that question.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:06 AM