(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - More than two decades after the foundation of the PA, Palestinians are as far from democracy as ever. In fact, the Palestinians seem to be marching in the opposite direction - towards establishing a regime that is remarkably reminiscent of the despotic and corrupt Arab and Islamic governments. A PA government funded by Americans and Europeans should be held accountable for persecuting dissidents and throwing objectors into prison. By refusing to hold the PA accountable for its crackdown on public freedoms, American and European taxpayers actively contribute to the emergence of another Arab dictatorship in the Middle East. Palestinians used to say that their dream was to have a free media and democracy like in Israel. But thanks to the apathy of the international community, the Palestinians have come to learn that if and when they ever have their own state, its role model will not be Israel or any Western democracy, but the regimes of repression that control the Arab and Muslim world.
2017-02-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive