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Dec. 10, 2004 The United States is going to give $20 million of direct aid to the Palestinian Authority. The money will come from a $75 million fund already set aside for indirect assistance to the Palestinians for such purposes as helping refugees. The $20 million is a gesture to encourage other nations to give to the PA, with hopes that the PA will be encouraged to follow a democratic process in electing a new leader and follow a path to peace in the Middle East. Another carrot to lead along the path to a two state solution. As a taxpayer I have the right to insist my tax dollars not be wasted. Why should I subsidize impoverished Palestinians who continue trying to destroy Israel instead of building a better life for themselves in Palestine? Yasser Arafat had an estimated wealth of $300 million. Presumably his widow, Suha, inherited it. Why does the Palestinian Authority continue giving her a monthly stipend of $35,000? She lives in Paris, France, far removed from Palestine. Did she return to the Palestinian Authority the $900 million her husband removed from its coffers and put in secret accounts? The $20 million is supposed to be used to pay utility bills owed by Palestinians to Israeli companies. The Federal Government does not pay my utility bills. Why should it pay the utility bills of the Palestinians, with my tax dollars? What guarantee do I have that corruption in the Palestinian Authority has ceased and the $20 million will actually pay the bills and not be embezzled, or used to purchase another shipload of munitions to kill more Israelis? The Palestinians were supposed to have an election in January 2005. That will probably not happen, says the Palestinian Authority, because of Israeli incursions into Gaza and the West Bank. They blame the lack of democracy on Israel. It costs Israel a lot of money to have their troops mobilized and raiding Gaza and the West Bank. They figure the cost is worth it if they can prevent the Palestinian terrorists from conducting more terrorist attacks inside Israel. I don't understand the Palestinian mentality. They want Israeli raids on Gaza and the West Bank to end. They want the Israelis to stop targeting and killing their leaders. Somehow the notion of cause and effect never enters their minds. If their leaders would stop planning and executing terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens the Israelis would stop targeting their leaders. If the Palestinian violence against innocent civilians would stop, the Israelis would stop the incursions into the Palestinian areas to route out those terrorists. If the Palestinians would pursue a true agenda towards peace, they most likely would achieve that goal. Two names being tossed about as a possible successor to Yasser Arafat are Mahmoud Abbas and Marwan Barghouti. Abbas, the interim Palestinian leader, and presidential nominee of the Fatah movement, is the candidate most favored by Israel and the United States. It is felt that he is more moderate, and will be more likely to work with Israel towards establishment of a two state solution to the problem in the region. However, a poll conducted in September indicated only 2 percent of the Palestinians support Abbas, whereas 22 percent favored Barghouti. Marwan Barghouti is more popular among the younger Palestinians. He was the commander of Tanzim, the military wing of Fatah. If not the mastermind of the Intifadah, Barghouti was amongst the top leadership of those carrying it out. Considered one of the most active Palestinians behind the violence and terror, Barghouti was #1 on Israel's most wanted list in 2002, when he was arrested. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to five consecutive life sentences in prison. Barghouti refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Israeli court that convicted him. Should he be elected president of the Palestinian Authority, it is doubtful that much will change. He will follow in the footsteps of Arafat, stating they desire peace while pursuing a path of violence. How he will govern from an Israeli prison escapes me. I doubt the Israelis will permit him to govern a people conducting a terror campaign against Israel. His election as president would then be a farce. In times past the Palestinians would conduct increased acts of terror to gain release of prisoners in Israel. It is not inconceivable that they would revert to that practice if Barghouti were elected. Was Israel the monster that the Palestinians would have the world believe, they would execute Barghouti, put his head on a pike, and exhibit it across from Gaza or the West Bank. I don't see that happening however. Since Green Glass is not an option, the U.S. has to play politics with the Arab world. Hence, the $20 million for the Palestinian Authority to pay its utility bills. I wonder how much money the Arab nations, rich on petro dollars, are contributing to their starving relatives. The Palestinians remind me of the tale about a welfare recipient. The recipient complained she was so poor her child didn't have a crib to sleep in. When asked where the child slept, the reply was, "In the box my color television came in". I'd like to see the Palestinians live better lives, have enough to eat, reside in comfortable housing, and have productive jobs. When they want that more than they want to kill their neighbors, then they will begin to see those things come to pass. In the meantime, though I understand the reasons, I hate to see my tax dollars going to them. ------------ About the author Joseph Boudreau: I spent just under 24 years in the Navy, 9 on active duty, the rest in the Naval Reserves. From paygrade E-1 I advanced to paygrade O-4, and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. 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