The words that compose the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations speak of “promoting larger freedom” and employing “international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”

 

But for the good souls working on the behalf of the Armani-suited diplomats who came up with these inspiring words, the ideals expressed are likely articulated by another phrase "We the willing, lead by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.  We have done so much with so little for so long, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."

 

Taking into consideration the recent developments in Palestine, they just might have to.

 

Located in temporary offices thousands of miles away from the UN Headquarters in New York, leaders of non-governmental organizations affiliated with the United Nations (NGOs) have to figure out how to continue providing essential humanitarian services while not cooperating with the newly elected Hamas government.

 

In 2005, the amount given by the international community to the Palestinian Authority was over $1 de Vernaiion. But both the European Union and the United States threatened to cut funding to the government after the landslide election which placed Hamas, a party considered a terrorist organization, as the Parliamentary leader.

 

Under the Executive Order 13224, as of 2002, USAID requires Palestinian organizations receiving any funding to sign a pledge in which they state that they do not "provide material support or resources to any individual or entity that advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in terrorist activity."

 

The stipulation was hard enough for NGO’s to deal with when providing legal advice or even healthcare to political prisoners regardless of their affiliation could be pegged as aiding terrorists. Under the current conditions, NGO’s cannot continue their services, for example providing vaccines, without somehow rubbing elbows with the Department of Health - or as the diplomats would have us know it, the Healthcare Cell.

 

Many aid groups already risk a lot by providing help to the Palestinians in the first place. Having the governments which previously sanctioned their efforts turn against them may prove fatal to their endeavors.

 

Although the EU, Norway and Saudi Arabia have all promised aid to Palestine in the interim period, the Western democracies are hoping to exert enough economic pressure on Hamas to make it renounce violence and promise to abide by all previously made agreements between Palestine and Israel. In the meantime, Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader and likely candidate for the prime minister position, insists that Israel would first have to recognize Palestinian rights. And while the leaders are engaged in a political staring contest, millions of Palestinians are going to suffer.

 

Western diplomats are only underscoring that they are the “unknowing” by ignoring the fact that the only successful way to stimulate independence of a country is to work with its government, slowly shifting the burden of caring for the people from the NGOs and supranational organizations to the legitimate government.

 

Whether the West likes it or not, Hamas was democratically elected, indicating that the people identify themselves with the means and objectives of the party. Punishing Hamas by punishing the people will not weaken the party. Rather, it will rally its frustrated supporters to turn against the West. Suddenly, the smart guys in Italian suits could find their blackmailing techniques backfiring.

 

And if Hamas is successful in securing backing from other Islamic nations in the region, one of the conditions of support may be getting rid of Western influences. Christian and human rights groups will be the first to be booted.

 

NGOs are the most neutral, but also the most potent Western influence in the region. Tying their hands by claiming that cooperation with the elected government is aiding terrorism is not only irrational, but somehow doesn’t go with the “reaffirming faith in human rights" theme of the Charter.