Israel Matzav

Change: Congress will stop aid to Egypt if treaty ruptures?

The House foreign operations appropriations subcommittee has passed a 2013 budget that would automatically cut aid to Egypt if it ruptures its peace treaty with Israel. The budget would also cut aid to the 'Palestinians' if they make an agreement with Hamas, and would ban aid to UNESCO.

However, the legislation cut funding for UNESCO, after the UN body voted to recognize Palestine as a member state. The Obama administration has been seeking a way to restore funding to the organization, though the law in its current format prohibits American contributions to any UN group that unilaterally recognizes the Palestinians.

The bill, which should be voted on by the entire appropriations committee next week, also maintains $1.3b. in military aid to Egypt as an ongoing commitment stemming from the Camp David Accords.

But following the Egyptian revolution and questions about its new government that will take power, Congress imposed more conditions on the military aid and $250m. in economic assistance.

Should Egypt break its treaty with Israel, as some emerging political voices have threatened, the assistance would automatically be cut. In addition, the US secretary of state would need to certify that upcoming elections are free and policies respecting civil rights are being implemented.

Though the secretary would have the ability to waive the restriction based on the elections if providing the aid to Egypt was declared in the national security interests of the United States, there is no waiver provision if the peace treaty ruptures.

...

The Palestinians would see their funding withheld if they made any agreement with Hamas and did not actively work to end incitement, a tightening of the current language ruling out aid under a unity government between Fatah and Hamas.

For those wondering whether there is a national security exception for aid to a unity government... the bill is here and the answer is that there is one. (For those trying to figure it out, Section 620K(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act is a limited national security waiver for the 'Palestinians' - limited in the purposes for which money can be used, but money is fungible).

Labels: Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, US foreign aid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:56 PM