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EU proposes monthly payments to some Palestinians
 JERUSALEM - The European Union has proposed creating an aid mechanism for the Palestinians that would funnel up to $30 million a month to a limited group of government workers, sidestepping the Hamas-led government. The proposal, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Wednesday, must still be approved by the EUs partners in the Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
| What's that word again? Jizya? |
The $30 million in proposed monthly social allowances would cover approximately 25 percent of the Palestinian Authoritys $120 million monthly wage bill.
Western diplomats said the EU envisioned providing the allowances to health and education workers, about a quarter of the Authoritys 165,000 workforce.
| What about the suffering Gaza airport workers? |
But the United States and Israel may object to paying teachers because of concerns about the curriculum under the Islamist-led government, diplomats said.
| What part of the curriculum, other than the Joooo-murdering and Xian-hating? |
In addition to providing allowances to some workers, the EU proposal calls for providing $6 million per month through a World Bank trust fund to keep health and other essential services running. Another $6 million a month would provide fuel supplies to the Palestinians.
| You'd think the Paleos would have considered basic health care and fuel supplies sufficiently important to elect a government that would deliver them, but no. |
EU member states and the Quartet are expected to review the EU proposal starting this week. The EU hopes to begin paying allowances through the mechanism next month.
Posted by: Steve White 2006-06-08 |
