The Ramallah Banana Republic

On her eighth and possibly final trip to Israel and the West Bank, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared during a press conference in the town of Jenin that both Palestinians and Israelis remain committed to peace negotiations, and the U.S. will continue to support their efforts.

"The distance to that peace has narrowed," she said, "although the peace has not yet been achieved."

Jenin was the scene of the bloody "Battle of Jenin" in 2002. It was a forbidden zone for foreign dignitaries and a hot bed for Palestinian militants. The Palestinian Authority (PA) until recently had little or no control over the town. In 2005, I interviewed some of the militants who were in control of it.

By staging the press conference there, Condoleezza Rice and the PA Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad wanted to showcase the progress in the path toward peace; economic activity is returning, and Palestinian security forces are implementing the rule of law in Jenin.

Meanwhile, in some last-minute scurrying, the Bush administration has funneled at least $300 million to the Palestinian Authority that might have otherwise faced tough scrutiny by a Congress preoccupied with the economic meltdown. The money is a last ditch effort aimed at bolstering beleaguered Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Some of this money might have paid for recent advertisements placed by Mahmoud Abbas in Israeli newspapers in an attempt to increase interest in an Arab peace plan for the region. The initiative, which offers Israel normal relations with Arab countries, was first proposed in 2002.

This Thursday, these full-page advertisements were published in Hebrew in four Israeli newspapers. The text of the advertisement read:

"Fifty-seven Arab and Islamic countries will establish diplomatic ties and normal relations with Israel in return for a full peace agreement and an end to the occupation."

Madison Avenue seems to have moved into Ramallah. Not a bad move from a president who is "supposed" to term out on January 9, 2009. But mark my words... he won't.

However, the problem is that Mahmoud Abbas seems to have forgotten about the other Palestinian government -- the one in Gaza... or maybe not.

At the same time the PA President Mahmoud Abbas was addressing Israelis through the media, he ordered access to a popular news website based in Gaza blocked. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are now unable to view the website Donia al-Watan. Abbas issued the order to block the site without any due process, legal notice, or opportunity for the website to defend itself, according to a report published on the website. The reason is that the site has been reporting on widespread corruption among Abbas' entourage.

According to an interview with The Electronic Intifada, Donia al-Watan's editor, Abdallah al-Issa, said that with electricity out, often for eighteen hours each day and the severe deprivation in Gaza, his work as journalist was difficult enough without having to face censorship by the Palestinian Authority as well. But the website can still be seen from abroad. As retaliation, the site displays a picture of Abbas with the headline: "The Ramallah Banana Republic."

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Comments

[justice2008]

Who's responsible for all of this?

1. The Israeli occupation and the starvation of the people in Gaza
2. the PA's corruption which lead to the Hamas takeover in Gaza

[leonardox1]

Let's not make Hamas angels. They should stop launching rockets at Israelis!

[newsjunkie5]

Let's think about why they are launching rockets at the Israelis...mmm...I can think of about 10 reasons off the top of my head.

[arvay]

If someone came to my hometown, confiscated my land because their God told them it was theirs and defended their theft with force, I would, like any other red-blooded American -- do my best to kill them and take back what's mine.

[joz22]

1.5 million Palestinians locked in Gaza are not all Hamas members! This is collective punishment.

[nefertiti]

leonardo
the rockets are Used against Provocations by the Israelis (which you do not hear about . ) Hamas Offered the Cease Fire But Israel does not abide by its promises and went and killed a few palestinians , sometimes with planes .

[newsjunkie5]

Let me ask you justice2008 how do you define "takeover?" Last I checked Hamas was elected into power by the people, as international observers were present watching the entire election process.

[joz22]

The Palestinian Authority is corrupt. Just ask anyone who lives in Ramallah!

[newsjunkie5]

what and the Israelis are angels...?

[newsjunkie5]

Aren't all governments corrupt on some level...seriously...WHO are we (the US) to tell another government how they should govern...we are certainly no model for anyone.

[peterg76]

"...peace has not yet been achieved." Well, at least Rice is being truthful.

[jad114]

"Truthful"? Only lately, remember Bush has promised a Palestinian state before the end of his term. This was the morphine he was giving to the Arab masses while pillaging Iraq.

[nefertiti]

The problem is they Believed him , like they Believe that Obama is the Messiah who will finally free the Palestinians . But the problem is with the Dictators who sold the Palestinian cause to keep their thrones . Many sold out to the Mossad , including the royals in kingdom of Jordan .