Rule of Law or Rule of Hanky Panky?
George Bush's "democracy" means as little in the Middle East as it does in the US. He insisted that Yasser Arafat create an "empowered" prime minister and cabinet in order to get some functions away from Arafat's control. Now that the "empowered" prime minister is to be somebody from Hamas, or at least selected by Hamas (a non-Hamas frontman so they can say the new government is not Hamas and therefore qualifies for US money), they want to take these functions away from the cabinet and give them back to the president, Abu Quisling Abbas. THIS IS NOT RULE OF LAW, BUT RULE OF KING HANKY PANKY.
QUOTE:
Abbas also said that he intends to try to regain control over both the PA's security services and its budget. Both responsibilities were taken away from Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat, and transferred to other Palestinian officials under pressure from Israel and the United States.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/679089.html
Mon., February 06, 2006 Shvat 8, 5766
PA's Abbas tells Israel: I plan to keep key powers
By Aluf Benn
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Israel recently that he will continue to be responsible for diplomatic contacts with Jerusalem despite Hamas' victory in the PA's parliamentary elections, and requested that Israel continue this dialogue rather than ignoring him as "irrelevant." Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded that in that case, Israel will continue talking with Abbas for the time being.
Abbas' message was delivered in several conversations between his emissaries and Israeli officials in recent days. In these conversations, his envoys stressed that the PLO, and not the PA, is the body that has signed all previous agreements with Israel and is officially responsible for conducting diplomatic negotiations. Since Abbas is also chairman of the PLO, he intends to continue negotiating with Israel in this capacity.
Abbas also said that he intends to try to regain control over both the PA's security services and its budget. Both responsibilities were taken away from Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat, and transferred to other Palestinian officials under pressure from Israel and the United States.
Yesterday, Olmert ordered the Finance Ministry to give the PA NIS 249.7 million in indirect taxes (customs and value-added tax) that Israel collects on the PA's behalf. He had delayed the transfer for a few days in response to Hamas' electoral victory.
However, Olmert stressed, from now on, the monthly transfers will not be made automatically; instead, the government will reexamine the situation each month and make a decision. He assigned Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to conduct the monthly assessment on whether to transfer the tax money, but Mofaz will consult with Olmert before making a final decision.
The decision to transfer the tax money was made at a special cabinet meeting on the implications of the Hamas victory. At this meeting, defense officials urged Olmert to approve the transfer, both to prevent the collapse of public services in the territories and to bolster Israel's demand that Abbas disarm Hamas. Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also favored the transfer; the only opposition came from Minister without Portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi.
Hamas has not yet formed a government, and until it does, both Israel and the international community have decided to conduct "business as usual" vis-a-vis the PA. "We are not interested in harming the Palestinians' fabric of life," Olmert explained at the meeting. "At the moment, the sitting Palestinian government is the one that has received this money to date, and Israeli governments from all parties have transferred this money. We have means of ensuring that it goes where it should."
He added that the current transfer will be fully utilized by February 15, which is when Abbas is expected to officially ask Hamas to form the next government.
However, Olmert lashed out at Hamas, saying that its status has not been changed by its electoral victory. "We have no intention, in any constellation, of maintaining contacts with Hamas. Nor will members of parliament from Hamas enjoy any privileges, because someone who belongs to a terrorist organization remains as such even if he is elected to the Palestinian parliament. All Hamas members, everywhere and at every level, are members of a terrorist organization, and that is how they should be treated. Anyone involved in terror is a target, and we must act against him as we have to date. There are no limitations on the operational echelon," he said, referring to the Israeli security services.
Following the meeting, Olmert met with Livni, who will leave for the U.S. tonight. Livni will meet tomorrow with King Abdullah of Jordan, who is currently visiting Washington, and on Wednesday, she will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Steve Hadley. The talks will focus on the implications of Hamas' electoral victory.