Blair's international donors' conference: Another conspiracy against the Palestinian people

Blair, in his opening remarks to the conference, told donors their pledges would be “indispensable” to the creation of a Palestinian state. But the monies will in fact be used above all to maintain the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the security forces it is using to suppress opposition to Israel in the West Bank and to mount a counteroffensive against the Hamas-led regime in Gaza.

Appealing for aid, PA President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah told donors in Paris a “moment of truth” had arrived. “Without the payment of aid ... we will be facing a total catastrophe in the West Bank and Gaza,” he said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for “the continued and unwavering support of the international community.” “The Palestinian Authority is experiencing a serious budgetary crisis,” she told the gathering. “This conference is literally the government’s last hope to avoid bankruptcy.”