The US has cut additional aid to the Palestinians for programs supporting conflict resolution with Israelis, adding to more than $500m in other cuts.
The latest cuts come from $10m in programs on reconciliation involving Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, as well as Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
US cuts aid to 'Palestine-Israel' conflict resolution programmes https://t.co/5Ial3CS1W6 pic.twitter.com/eoNDPfJpKx
— Middle East News (@Middle_E_News) September 17, 2018
The portion of the money involving Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip was being redirected to programs between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, a US embassy official said on Sunday.
It was not clear how much of the $10m was being redirected.
US confirms further cuts to Palestinian aid The United States has cut additional aid to Palestinians for programmes supporting conflict resolution with Israelis, an official has… https://t.co/9e4vn1OXjn
— NetworkOfNewsIreland (@NOfNews_Ireland) September 17, 2018
US officials also could not confirm whether the latest cut meant all non-military related aid to the Palestinians had now been eliminated.
A US embassy official said:
“As announced in August, the administration redirected more than $200 million that was originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza. … At the same time, we redirected a portion of the $10 million which was planned for conflict management and mitigation.”
US cuts aid to 'Palestine-Israel' conflict resolution programmes – https://t.co/BAvMuJejaU
— greeen (@greeenorg) September 17, 2018
The official said the portion involving Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza would be used “to enhance” programs in Israel instead.
The latest cuts come amid a raft of financial and diplomatic sanctions against the Palestinians for what the Trump administration describes as their reluctance to negotiate with Israel.
Trump’s #UNRWA Funding Cuts Are Part of a New Formula to Erase Most Palestinians #Palestine #Israel #Genocide #refugees #mideast https://t.co/CDtF6asnr6
— pdjmoo (@pdjmoo) September 17, 2018
Palestinians say the cuts are a form of blackmail aimed at pressuring them into accepting an unfavorable peace accord with Israel.
In recent months the US has shut down the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s office in Washington DC, cut economic aid to Palestinians in the occupied territories, and scrapped plans to finance hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem.
#Trump Administration to Close #PLO Office in Washington, DC https://t.co/Tf34gN3pOR via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/PR8ZX6Fc4X
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) September 11, 2018
The US has also cut funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which supports Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
(AJE, PC, Social Media)
