Congressional Republicans are blocking the Biden administration from sending approximately $75 million in aid to Palestinians through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Senator James Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the ranking members of their respective committees on foreign affairs, put a hold on the notification for USAID on the reinstated funding that was eliminated by the Trump administration. The aid will be delayed but is expected to eventually go through.
The $75 million is part of the $235 in aid the Biden administration announced on Wednesday. Risch and McCaul have not commented on their efforts to block the aid, but they did put out a statement denouncing Biden’s decision to resume assistance to the Palestinians.
“Resuming assistance to the West Bank and Gaza without concessions from the Palestinian Authority (PA) undermines US interests. The PA is spending millions annually to compensate terrorists while the international community pays for the well-being of the Palestinian people,” the lawmakers said.
The idea that the PA is paying “terrorists” is unfounded but is a common talking point of critics of providing aid to the Palestinians. Israel slammed Biden’s decision to resume aid, specifically the funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
UNRWA provides assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Israel claims the agency is “anti-Semitic” and a threat to the Jewish state. “Israel strongly opposes renewing funding for @UNRWA, an anti-Semitic agency that incites against Israel and uses a twisted definition of who is a ‘refugee,’” Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the US, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
Must be the Israeli citizen Republicans…!
“Senator James Risch (R-Israel) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Israel)”
Fixed.
yes that is more accurate
Just totally disgusting how a nation like the USA that brags about “fighting for freedom and democracy” around the world can’t even maintain an even playing field when dealing with the Israel/Palestinian issue! What good is all the money when it comes to “defense” when a small population of Palestinians get abused and the USA can’t do a thing about it?
The money is needed for cemeteries to bury the Palestinians and will be provided to Israel.
Sir, you are a sick BASTARD!
Hmmm
Makes total sense to give Billions in direct aid and trillions in indirect aid to the to israel that has committed so many war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and Apartheid as the illegally occupying military force that to list them all would literally fill entire volumes. In comparison, relatively speaking Palestine has been acting entirely and quite legally in self-defense.
Makes total sense to give Billions in direct and trillions in indirect aid to israel that has been caught spying on the US more times than any other country since the Wall came down. Palestine of course has no Intelligence agencies of note, let alone a military to back them up….
Makes total sense to give Billions in direct and trillions in indirect aid to israel that has been caught directly and indirectly subverting our electorial process and foreign policy with its arm of agents in the Congress, Justice, the White House, the FED, Treasury, Hollywood and the MSM etc. Naturally, the Palestinians have had essentially zero impact or influence in any way shape or form in all of this.
Yeah, can’t remember a time when a Palestinian leader got standing ovations from our congress like the despicable Netanyahu did.
Not a fan of foreign aid but these same assholes pony up ten times the amount of money to Israel.
Well, it’s apparent who owns these treasonous bastards…