Show the Palestinians the money
The Palestinians' appeal to the U.N. and its bodies has led to understandable consternation in Israel. But wrath is an evil counselor. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas petitioned the General Assembly, Security Council and UNESCO, so Israel blocked the transfer of Palestinian funds. We did this not in response to terrorism, or to a Hamas takeover in Ramallah, but in retaliation for a diplomatic initiative. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman banded together, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nodded his assent to the idea of warehousing $100 million in Israeli banks.
It was an emotionally gratifying step. Minister without portfolio Benny Begin (Likud), Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Independence), Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor (Likud) and the other "Arab lovers" who opposed the move were taught their lesson. Yet the writing was on the wall, and it stated clearly that confiscating the money would not end well. First, because the money belongs to the Palestinian Authority. Second, because the authority has promised to refrain from unilateral diplomatic initiatives for the foreseeable future. Third, because U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won't leave Netanyahu alone. Nor will Angela Merkel or any other European leader.
Besides, the alternative is worse. Choking off Palestinian funds will only accelerate the fall of Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government. Despite the fact that Abbas is a compulsive rejecter of peace, whoever replaces him will be worse.
Get the Israel Hayom newsletter sent to your mailbox!
Lieberman claimed on Monday that the money is not really funding Abbas' security forces. He is wrong. He says that Abbas plans to use the money to provide stipends to terrorists released in the prisoner exchange for the already forgotten Gilad Shalit.
The truth is, the Palestinian Authority has to set its own priorities, and if it transfers money to terrorists there will be nothing left to bankroll its security forces, which are preventing sabotage now and in the future.
Yisrael Beitenu has been well served by this controversy. It will be remembered as having led the campaign to block the money and as the group now warning against releasing the funds. Their populism has led to soaring public opinion polls. But Israel will emerge as the loser.
On Monday, Netanyahu had to hint to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the blocked funds would flow to their natural destination, the Palestinian Authority. It is in Israel's interest that this occur. It is also Israel's obligation. The fact that there was even a need to convey this message is unfortunate. There is a famous Midrashic story about a servant who bought his master a smelly fish. The master gave his servant a choice of punishments: Either eat the fish, accept 100 lashes or leave town. Due to his indecisiveness, the servant ended up receiving all three punishments.
Not only has Israel been forced to eat the smelly fish and leave town, we've eaten two smelly fish and been kicked out of two towns: Washington and Berlin. All of this was unnecessary. Once again, a Mishnaic saying comes to mind: Who is wise? The person who anticipates the future.
Like our newsletter? 'Like' our Facebook page!
