PALESTINIAN AID

Allowing humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian citizens is necessary to alleviate suffering and avoid violence that could result from prolonged hardships. How this gesture by western countries will affect a long-term resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains unknown.

In January, the Islamic group Hamas, branded as terrorists by the United States and many European countries for their attacks on Israelis, won a majority in the Palestinian parliamentary elections. Shortly after, the United States and European countries said they would cut off aid to the Palestinians. Israel began withholding $55 million in tax and customs money it collected each month from Palestinians, which previously had been returned to the Palestinian government.

The money was cut off in hopes of persuading Hamas to moderate its position, which includes opposition to Israel’s existence. However, since the government is a major employer in the Palestinian territories – where unemployment among 16- to 24-year-old males is 70 percent – if there is no money to pay government salaries, this is likely to further resentment and fuel violence.

After reports of dire shortages of medical supplies and impending sanitation problems, an international agreement was reached to allow some aid to reach the Palestinians. While details remain to be worked out, the United States and European countries generally agreed this week to allow some financial aid to be directed to Palestinian citizens as long as it did not go to the Hamas-led government.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this week announced that $10 million in relief funds would be used to send medicine to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The aid would begin flowing this week, she said. Israel also announced it would release some of the tax money it collected for medical and health needs.

Further complicating the situation is Iran’s support for the Palestinians. Writing in the New York Times, Geoff Porter, a private policy analyst, warns that there is now a race between moderate Muslim countries and Iran to see whose money reached the Palestinians first.

If Arab governments, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Algeria can get money to the Palestinian Authority, which would require an international agreement allowing banks to transfer the money without running afoul of laws against financing terrorist organizations, they “stand a good chance” of persuading Hamas to recognize Israel and to embrace a peace initiative, writes Mr. Porter, who is with the Eurasia Group, a global political risk advisory and consulting firm.

If Iran gets its money to the Palestinian Authority first, Hamas can say no to peace efforts and recognition of Israel.

This week’s agreement to allow some aid to reach the Palestinians may be a small step toward ensuring Iran doesn’t win that race.