6 minutes agoPalestinian relief cuts, Trump has asked Netanyahu
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)The suggestion for the complete suspension of US funds to the United Nations Agency dedicated to Palestinians (UNRWA) is reported to have come from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah. According to what U.S. media informs “Axios”, quoting Israeli officials, Netanyah has told the officials of Trump administration that he supported [...]
According to the U.S. media report “Axios”, quoting Israeli officials, Netanyah has told the officials of the Trump administration only two weeks ago that he fully supported the ban on funding, even though he did so without consulting Israeli security chiefs in advance.
The reporting comes just days after the United States announced the complete ban on financing of the United Nations agency offering assistance to Palestinian refugees.
“Administration has carefully revised the issue and concluded that the United States will no longer contribute to UNRWE-in”, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in last Friday's statement.
At that exit for media, Nauert said that the business model and fundamental practices of “U n NRWA” was “unstable”, while adding further that the group in question has been for years to “state crisis”.
“Axios” stressed a few weeks ago that the Israeli suggestion was that the United States gradually limit funding for “U n NRWA”, if they decide to take this step. The Jewish country did not even support the suspension of American aid to the Gaza Strip because of fear that it could lead to a humanitarian collapse and tension in the field.
But Netanyahu changed his mind a few weeks ago and then conveyed his opinion to the Trump administration in a private way, as did members of the Senate Budget Committee. Netanyah's office has not yet reacted to this report.
Before the verdict was announced, however, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said there could be an effort by the US administration to pressure Palestinian authorities.
“After using humanitarian aid to blackmail and pressure the Palestinian leadership, to accept the plan known as the UN-century Agreement, the Trump administration is planning to cause an immoral scandal against Palestinian refugees, giving itself the right to deny their historic rights”, Abbas said.
The US State Department announced on the other hand the launch of discussions on a new approach to providing aid to Palestinian refugees, with the UN, relevant governments and other internationally interested parties.
