Dozens of trucks carrying tons of food and medical supplies have entered Gaza since the Hamas terrorist organization took over the area. Another 400 tons were transferred via the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Thursday.
Included in the delivery were 130 tons of flour, 50 tons each of rice and sugar, 34 tons of pasta, 33 tons of lentils, 30 tons of margarine, 20 tons of beans, 18.5 tons of barley, 15 tons of chickpeas, 8 tons of powdered milk, 7 tons of astringents, 5 tons of tea, 2 tons of soup and thousands of liters of oil.
Jordan supplied the lion’s share of the basics – flour, legumes and oil – and international aid organizations provided the rest, to be distributed by their representatives to Palestinian Authority residents now being ruled by the Hamas terrorists.
Thousands of liters of gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas supplies were delivered through the Nahal Oz terminal.
Tons of medical supplies were provided as well, and Red Cross surgeons were sent in to add their expertise to doctors working round the clock in Gaza hospitals. Medics also evacuated residents to Israel for specialized medical care.
And that’s only in Gaza.
U.S. officials have asked the Congress to restore $27 million in aid, to purchase more arms for PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas’ personal militia, Force 17.
The Defense Ministry is considering allowing the transfer of thousands of new weapons to Abbas’ forces as a “good will” gesture to prop up the new PA emergency government.
Officials explained Friday on Voice of Israel government radio that Abbas needs the weapons to replace the arsenal that was lost to Hamas terrorists who routed Fatah loyalists in Gaza over a week ago. Thousands of weapons and millions of bullets and other ammunition had been shipped to the PA militia by American allies Egypt and Jordan, with Israel’s full knowledge and approval.
The government will also transfer most, if not all, of the $700 million that remains of the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA but withheld after Hamas won the legislative elections in January 2006.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he might also agree to dismantle numerous security checkpoints and roadblocks throughout Judea and Samaria as another “confidence building” measure. Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) objects to providing arms to Fatah. "It has been proven in the past that giving arms and money to Fatah serves to support terrorism," Lieberman said. "Even if we give guns to Abu Mazen, he has no ability and no chance."
The People's Choice
With the PLO backing Abbas in his bid to hold new elections, the latest polls indicate that the most popular leader in the PA is Marwan Barghouti, now serving five life sentences in a Negev prison for murder.
That Barghouti must be released in any prisoner swap deal for IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, kidnapped a year ago by Hamas terrorists, is the one point both Fatah and Hamas have agreed on this year.
Barghouti masterminded more than 30 terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens, in which some 35 were killed. Sufficient evidence was found to convict him of only five murders, however. Prime Minister Olmert has said he will not free Barghouti, even at the expense of Shalit’s freedom.
But if PA elections were to be held today, Marwan Barghouti would be the people’s choice to lead them.