Israel Matzav

Obama ups the ante on unfrozen aid to 'Palestinians'

Two weeks ago, I reported that Secretary of State Clinton was bypassing a Congressional hold on funding for the 'Palestinian Authority' in a clear break with past tradition. On Thursday, I reported that the Obama administration has released $147 million in aid to the 'Palestinians.' Now, in a Friday afternoon move designed to avoid media attention, the Obama administration has officially upped the ante to $192 million (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

An official with the US Agency for International Development said Saturday that the money had been restored.

Obama stated that the aid was “important to the security interests of the United States.”

The US Congress froze a $192 million aid package to the Palestinian Authority after its president, Mahmoud Abbas, defied US pressure and sought to attain UN endorsement of Palestinian statehood last September. The presidential waiver means that aid can now be delivered.

The unilateral statehood gambit was strongly opposed by Israel, which said Abbas was seeking to avoid negotiating the necessary compromises and modalities of statehood with Israel. The US indicated it would veto a resolution in the Security Council seeking unilateral recognition of “Palestine,” but the issue has not come to a vote, because the Palestinians were unable to obtain sufficient support in the Security Council. They may yet seek a non-binding endorsement of statehood in the UN General Assembly.

Section 3 of Congress’s Palestinian Accountability Act, which applies to 2012, stipulates that “no funds available to any United States Government department or agency … may be obligated or expended with respect to providing funds to the Palestinian Authority.” Obama has now signed a waiver, however, the White House said Friday, and asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to inform Congress accordingly.

Congress ought to at least leave itself a way to override these bogus 'national security' waivers. This is outrageous. Keep it in mind the next time Hussein Obama tells us how he has Israel's back.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Palestinian Authority, US foreign aid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:55 PM