Israel Matzav

Priorities: More than half of US aid to the 'Palestinian Authority' expended in last four years

More than half of the money that the United States has given the 'Palestinian Authority' since the 1993 Oslo Accords was given to them in the last four years. This is from an update I received about a US lawsuit against aid to the 'Palestinians' from Shurat HaDin, the Israel Law Center.

The appellants contend that the State Department has recklessly ignored congressional safeguards and transparency requirements which govern US aid to the Palestinian Authority ("PA"). The 24 Americans argue that as a result of White House non-compliance with federal regulations, funds have been flowing to terror groups like Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. These Americans call on the US government to stop all funding to the Palestinians until the latter "fully comply with federal prohibitions against support for terrorism."

It is estimated that since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, the United States Department of State, via USAID has given over $4 billion to the PA. During the last four fiscal years, average aid has been roughly $600 million per year. Additionally, the United States gives approximately $200 million to the United Nations body UNRWA, each year, and during the fiscal years 2008 and 2009, UNRWA gave roughly $500 million of their funding to recipients in the West Bank and Gaza. Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Department of State is required to certify that the PA is committed to a peaceful co-existence with Israel before distributing funds, and ensure that no portion of the funding is used for terrorism.

The United  States - all by itself - has given $4 billion to the 'Palestinian Authority' since 1993 - $2.4 billion of that in the last four years. That's a huge jump and it shows the Obama administration's priorities. And while one could argue that it's only 'a billion here and a billion there that might eventually add up to real money,' the fact is that this kind of massive aid increase to a group that has no interests in common with the United States shows that Obama's priority is not what is best for the American people.

Labels: Palestinian Authority, US foreign aid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:50 PM