Vital Perspective

After Pakistan Picks Up F-16s, India Buys Qatari Jets, Israeli Missile System

India is on a military spending spree this week and their finding willing partners in the Middle East. The new spending may have been prompted by the announcement earlier this week that the U.S. will be selling new F-16s to Pakistan.

According to MediaLine, India has confirmed it is buying some 40 second-hand jets from Qatar and France, and has shown interest in picking up a further 80 aircraft from a variety of countries, including the U.S., Russia and Sweden. India is also close to signing a deal with Israel for the purchase of a missile system, which will help New Delhi defend its fixed bases, including its nuclear installations.

The purchase will be for 18 SPYDER systems, pending the approval of the Indian security cabinet in the next few days. The missile is a quick-reaction surface-to-air projectile. While India intends using the system to defend army bases and other strategic points, the missile can be fired from the back of a truck, offering considerable mobility. The missile has a range of some nine miles and can reach a height of five miles.

Hamas Minister Plans to Travel Throughout Europe on Swedish Visa

A minister of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, Atef Edwane, said during a visit to Stockholm that he would visit four other European countries on a visa delivered by Sweden. Edwane declined to say which four countries he was planning to visit before his visa expires on May 16.

Sweden and 14 other European countries have agreed, under the so-called Schengen accord, that a visa delivered by any of them is valid for all others. The other Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

Sweden Issues Visas to Hamas; Pulls Out of NATO Air Force Exercise

Swedish Ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Israel's Foreign Ministry on Thursday to explain Stockholm's decision to give visas to Hamas members to enter Sweden.

Foreign Ministry D-G Ron Prossor said that Stockholm's decision effectively legitimizes terrorism, and that one cannot make the distinction between a terrorist organization and its members. Sweden's decision to withdraw from a NATO air force exercise due to Israel's participation was also reportedly discussed between the two officials.

Hamas Will Take Over a Government Flush with Cash

According to The Norway Post, "Norway has transferred $10 million to an international joint aid fund to finance the salaries of Palestinian Authority employees. The money will be used to help pay teachers' salaries for February and March." In all likelihood, we believe these funds will be transfered to the UNRWA, which teaches incitement and passes it off as education.

Also on Tuesday, the World Bank announced that it was issuing a $42 million grant to the Palestinian Authority to help ensure it can continue providing basic services. "The release of this tranche will allow the PA to maintain economic and social stability in the short-term by covering urgent expenditures such as salaries of civil servants," David Craig, World Bank director for the West Bank and Gaza said in a statement.

By our count, this brings the post-Hamas PLC election influx to $463.4 million from the EU, Iran, Sweden, Norway and the World Bank. That figure does not include the $50 million per-month from the Arab League or an undisclosed amount of funding Hamas has admitted to receiving from Hezbollah (which receives its funding from Syria and Iran).

We want to know three things. First, how can these donors seriously believe that over $463.4 million can be spent before Hamas takes over the prime minister's office. Second, is that even a consideration to these donors? Third, do these donors realize that any improvements made by the PA prior to Hamas taking full control will only lessen the burden on them?

Sweden Increases Funding of Hamas, Canada Scales Back

Countries all across the world are making decisions on whether they should fund the new Hamas government in the Palestinian territories, and people seem to be splitting into two camps. Either you favor a freeze of funding until certain criteria are met, or you believe Hamas does not need to moderate before receiving funding.

Sweden proved their position on Monday when the state-run Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) pledged more than €5 million in additional aid to the Palestinian territories. In 2005, SIDA donated nearly 100 million kronor to the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, our neighbor to the north announced they will not help fund a new Hamas-led government unless they reject violence and recognize Israel. Canada is currently reviewing the $25 million (CAD) it sends to the PA each year.