Hizbullah says: We’re going to attack Israel because America is making us do it.
Hizbullah has not ruled out another confrontation with Israel this summer and is rearming, according to a report by the Guardian, Wednesday. “We are prepared for the possibility of another adventure or the demand of American policy that might push the IDF in that direction,” the British paper quoted Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qasim as saying.
According to the Guardian, the Hizbullah leader believes Washington is waging a covert war against Hizbullah. In the article, the organization accused the US administration of arming anti-Hizbullah militias and seeking to undermine the Lebanese army.
Hamas says: Israel is the main “obstacle” to the prisoner’s deal, for having the nerve to not want to allow murderers to go free.
“Israel represents the principle obstacle to reach a deal for the exchange of prisoners. With the position it has adopted, Israel affirms that it does not want the release of Shalit and doe not want a deal,” said Ghazi Hamad.
Israel said Tuesday it was “disappointed’ with a list of prisoners the Palestinians want released in exchange for Shalit who was kidnapped last June in a cross-border attack by gunmen from Hamas and other armed groups near the Gaza border.
“There is no reason to refuse the names presented to Israel. The expression ‘have blood on their hands’ is absurd and we reject it entirely,” added Hamad.
The PA says: Even though we got $1.2 billion in aid last year, we still need another $1 billion because most of the aid was stolen by our thugocrats and by the way, our people are starving. Ignore the fat children and the full larders, they’re starving. Starving, I say!
Meryl says: This is the so-called reformer speaking below.
The new Palestinian Authority government will need 1 billion euros in international aid this year to “get back on our feet,” Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Salam Fayyad said Wednesday.
“We are looking for donor support to bridge the gap of 1 billion euros for 2007,” Fayyad said after meeting with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. “This is assistance we need to get back on our feet.”
Meryl says: Uh-huh. Another billion dollars down the sewer that is the PA, where the money will not even be spent to improve the sewers that Gazans are literally drowning in. Sure. Send ’em money.
The new PA Minister of Tourism says: We’re going to re-brand “Palestine” and make it a popular tourist destination. (No, really.)
Her main goals are improving the destinations’ image abroad – “rebranding Palestine” – and restructuring the industry, including working closely with the private sector. In particular, she wants to increase the amount of time people spend in the Palestinian areas while visiting the Holy Land.
“We are counting on cooperation with the outside world to give Palestine the image it deserves and encourage tourism and pilgrims. Behind the wall,” she says, referring to the security barrier surrounding Bethlehem, “they will find friendly people with a rich heritage and culture ready to receive them.”
Meryl says: Perhaps if you did something about the shooting and the bombings and the kidnapping of journalists, soldiers, aid workers, and ordinary citizens, people might be more inclined to visit.