The Palestinian War on Businessmen

by Bassam Tawil • July 5, 2019 at 5:00 am

By boycotting the conference in Bahrain, in fact, Palestinian leaders had already sent a message to the world that they would rather see their people continue to suffer economic hardship than receive billions of dollars in aid.... Rather than spitting in the faces of businessmen, Palestinian leaders should be working closely with Israel and the US and any other party that wants to help the Palestinian people.
Abbas and his old guard officials are evidently hoping that the US and international community will continue pouring millions of dollars on them without holding them to account.... They want the conflict to continue for as long as possible so that they can continue receiving funds from Americans, Europeans and others.
Palestinian leaders want to continue blackmailing the international community into giving them unconditional and unlimited financial aid, while at the same time depriving Palestinians of any opportunity to improve their living conditions. They want their people to continue living in misery so that Abbas and his officials can blame Israel and the rest of the world for the "suffering" of the Palestinians.
These leaders' biggest fear is that economic prosperity might divert Palestinians' attention from the fight against Israel. Like his rivals in Hamas, Abbas seems afraid that once Palestinians start enjoying the fruits of a strong economy, they will stop thinking of killing Israelis or abandon the Palestinian dream of destroying Israel.

Thirteen Palestinian businessmen who defied the Palestinian Authority's call for boycotting the recent US-led "Peace to Prosperity" economic conference in Bahrain are now being targeted by Mahmoud Abbas's security forces in the West Bank. Some of the businessmen have been forced to go into hiding. Pictured: Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner speaks at the conference about boosting the Palestinian economy, reducing unemployment and improving Palestinian living conditions, on June 25, 2019. (Image source: Bahrain News Agency)

The Palestinian Authority's crackdown on Palestinian businessmen who participated in the recent US-led "Peace to Prosperity" economic conference in Bahrain signals strongly how Palestinian leaders act directly against the interests of their own people.

Even more worrying is the message that this crackdown sends to the Palestinian public: anyone who dares to work with US President Donald Trump's administration will be denounced as a traitor and collaborator with the "enemies" of the Palestinians: the US and Israel.

Thirteen Palestinian businessmen who defied the Palestinian Authority's call for boycotting the Bahrain conference are now being targeted by Mahmoud Abbas's security forces in the West Bank. Some of the businessmen have been forced to go into hiding, while others are keeping a low profile after receiving threats from many Palestinian groups, including Abbas's ruling Fatah faction.

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Fourth of July Message

July 4, 2019 at 12:00 pm

With uncountable thanks to our forefathers and all those who strive each day to preserve the values embodied in the US Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. If we do not protect them, America's allies and the Free World, they will be taken away. We have so much to be thankful for. Very Most Joyous Fourth of July! — The Editors.