Israel Matzav

Ros-Lehtinen on the 'Palestinians'

Here's Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl) on the 'Palestinians.'

While Ros-Lehtinen said she supports a two-state solution, she expressed concern that current US policies were leading toward a three-state solution as the Palestinians fracture between Hamas and Fatah. She considers Hamas, which openly calls for the destruction of Israel, much more extreme than Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, an independent. But she made clear that doesn’t mean she holds them in high regard.

“This feeling that Abbas and Fayyad are the good guys, if they’re the good guys then we should start praying for Israel’s safety right now, because these are folks who have not wanted to be true partners for peace,” she declared. “They do not recognize Israel’s right to exist as a free, democratic, Jewish state.

They will not abide by prior commitments, they will not sit and negotiate with Israel.”

And she was particularly troubled by the way the US has provided financial assistance to the PA.

“They know they don’t have to do a darn thing; with this administration they will get a blank check and they will always get helped out,” she said. “Try looking at their budgets and try examining where they’re using their money and where our US dollars are going.

If you track US dollars, you’ll never find out where that money goes.”

Meanwhile, the Obama administration and many Democrats in Congress want to give the 'Palestinians' a free ride.

Middle East observers on the left, many of whom see the efforts of Abbas and Fayyad as creating the conditions on the ground for peace by bringing greater security and economic growth to the West Bank, are worried about the vacuum created if they fail.

“US aid to the Palestinians is not a blank check but an investment in peace and security. It supports specific humanitarian needs, state-building efforts and the building of a security service that is professional and accountable,” said Americans for Peace Now spokesman Ori Nir.

He contended that Congress already provides the necessary oversight of US assistance.

“Thanks to Congress, America’s aid program to the Palestinians is probably the most conditioned, restricted and audited aid program in the world.”

Hadar Susskind, president of policy and strategy for J Street, had a more dire assessment.

“Many of the positions she’s taken, whether it’s letters or resolutions she’s written or statements she’s made, are really dangerous,” he charged. He pointed to a letter to Clinton Ros-Lehtinen sponsored this summer which called for the PLO mission in Washington to be ejected from the country.

“If you’re trying to lead a peace process between these two groups, deporting the diplomats from one group doesn’t help that process,” he said.

I'm looking forward to having her in charge. Heh.

Read the whole thing.

Labels: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Palestinians

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:28 AM