Middle East Peace Act of 2009 (On the President's Desk)

[afleitch]

Considering we give non military aid of only $85 million a year to Palestine yet give non miltary aid of $2600 million to Israel (average of past few years using avaliable figures) on the issue of aid we are not really comparing like with like (considering Palestinian aid is under 4% of that given to Israel.)

Israel looses almost exponentially more than Palestine if aid is halted and no compromise is reached (particularly if you look at the aid-trade ratio for Israel)

This is a neutral bill in conditions, but not in effect.

[afleitch]

Considering we give non military aid of only $85 million a year to Palestine yet give non miltary aid of $2600 million to Israel (average of past few years using avaliable figures) on the issue of aid we are not really comparing like with like (considering Palestinian aid is under 4% of that given to Israel.)

Israel looses almost exponentially more than Palestine if aid is halted and no compromise is reached (particularly if you look at the aid-trade ratio for Israel)

This is a neutral bill in conditions, but not in effect.

That's true enough, although I think that Palestine also has things to gain that aren't directly connected to money, namely, recognition of them as a sovereign state by Israel and Atlasia. That should be one of their greatest goals.

Israel on the other hand does stand more to lose, I agree, but that does seem fair to me considering they are currently at a much higher position (unfairly, I might even suggest).

I really hope that both sides are willing to cooperate.

Given that Palestine is effectively financially supported by the Arab world, recognising Israel as part of the condition (which many other Arab states do not) could risk alienating it's neighbours, trading partners and military backers. As such Palestine has more, financially (and perhaps even 'morally') to loose than gain in this bill.

I wouldn't back it if I was a Palestinian politician, not for such low leves of aid and for such low increases in aid considering much of that 5% increase would be eaten up through the effects of local inflation.

[afleitch]

Increasing Palestinian aid to $2000 million would see it leapfrog Egypt in terms of aid IIRC. Egypt (and to some extent Jordan - a nation satisfied with Atlasia and British aid) acts as a powerful balance in the region. We have Egypts and Jordans on one side and Syrias and Irans on the other if you will.

Egypt does 'our' job in tackling (with some assistance) internal terrorist threats and recruitment within it's own borders and exists in some form as a functioning democracy with some degree of openness and stability. Much of this is a continuation of the accord reached back in 1980. I would be very wary in upping Palestinian aid considering we have left definition as to what constitutes Palestine up in the air. I wouldn't upset Egypt and Jordan who as nations have to exist side by side with Palestine.

We may completely placate Palestine and do something no one has been able to do. But cut off one head and another may grow.

How can the Senate get around this? A Middle East bill perhaps but it is a difficult issue.

[afleitch]

Perhaps this needs a complimentary bill to adress the 11 'neighbour' nations (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, United Arab Emirates.) who do not recognise the State of Israel. We could offer a trading deal? It would require one heck of a bill but it would tip the scales more in favour of an agreement.

Iran alone is an issue, and Syria and Lebanon as neighbours are sensitive but conditions are more favourable in states like the UAE who are simply posturing.

[afleitch]

I am aware I have been perhaps too involved perhaps in Senate business here. I will respectfully back out now

I am willing to help draft a Middle East trade (?) Bill if Franzl likes.

Over and out!

[afleitch]

I am aware I have been perhaps too involved perhaps in Senate business here. I will respectfully back out now

I am willing to help draft a Middle East trade (?) Bill if Franzl likes.

Over and out!

If you'd like to, sure.....I'm sure you'd make a really good bill.

I don't mind drafting it, though. But feel free to

Well I take 'help draft' to mean help j/k. Let's see what the final version of this bill is I suppose.