$7.4 billion in aid has been pledged to the corrupt Fatah government in the West Bank over the next 3 years. They had originally hoped to secure just $5.6 billion. The pledges were made by international donors at Middle East “peace talks” in France on Monday as a follow up to the conference held in Annapolis last month. However, with all this money being thrown at the occupied territories in an attempt to feign concern, the World Bank still says the cash will be unable to produce growth unless Israel eases its authoritarian control.

West Bank Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas invoked the dire situation in the Gaza Strip even though he once again solidified his refusal to talk with Hamas leadership. Abbas has refused to meet with Hamas leaders, and even made the party illegal in the West Bank, ever since plans for an US-backed Fatah coup failed and led to Hamas gaining “control” in Gaza.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy also made mention of occupied Gaza: “Our financial support will also be used for the population of Gaza. Its prolonged isolation carries great political, economic and security risks. The entry points must be reopened to let the economy breath. A full and immediate freeze of settlement activity is a priority.”

A recent UN Development Program report has determined that Gaza’s production is at 11% of its capacity. The report also stated that, “The private sector in the Gaza Strip is on the verge of collapse with no scope for recovery unless the strict imposed closure regime on the strip is lifted.” Israel has actually tightened its military and economic grip on Gaza since the failed coup in June.

Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Paris, said that the pledges would be seen as political support for President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. “Clearly the subtext of this conference is to boost the authority, popularity and credibility of the authorities of President Abbas, at the expense of Hamas.” There is indeed a grave disconnection between what is being promised in the “peace talks” and what is actually happening in the occupied territories as a result of Israeli occupation. Israel is still expanding settlements within the West Bank and creating worse all-around conditions in Gaza by engaging in a policy of collective punishment. Meanwhile, the Western-backed Fatah party has over $7 billion it’s not going to share with the democratically-elected Hamas government (which was elected primarily because of Fatah corruption).

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