Arab countries have agreed to lift a financial blockade on the Palestinians after the US vetoed a UN resolution to condemn Israel’s most recent massacre which killed more than 50 people.

Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, said; “There will be no compliance with any restriction imposed … The Arab banks have to transfer money [to the Palestinians]. Our message is loud and clear to those who take unfriendly positions against Arabs.”

The US and European Union define the democratically-elected Hamas government as a terrorist organization. Aside from using this definition to justify military action against the Palestinians, steps are also taken against those who transfer funds to the group. For these reasons, the unified defiance of western and Israeli politicians by Arab nations is very significant.

The US and European-led imposition of economic sanctions, along with an Israeli refusal to release revenues it collects on the Palestinians behalf, have severely damaged the Palestinian economy and have led to protests by civil servants who have gone unpaid for months. Arab banks have not transferred funds to the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority amid concerns of incurring US-led penalties.

Kuwait’s foreign minister said his country would send $30 million to the Palestinians. “There will no longer be an international siege,” Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s foreign minister, said. Mohammed Awad, secretary-general of the Palestinian cabinet, said at least $52 million would be going to pay salaries. “Most banks follow their governments. They must remove the blockade.”

The Arab League wants Hamas to endorse an initiative that calls for peace in exchange for land Israel has been illegally occupying since 1967. Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, said Hamas could not talk with Israel unless it met western stipulations. “A multilateral conference doesn’t make Hamas legitimate. What makes Hamas legitimate is accepting the international benchmarks,” Regev said hypocritically.

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