U.S. Lawmakers May Cut All Aid to PA after Abbas UN Bid

April 3, 2014

3 min read

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. (Photo:  F.Malotaux / Wiki Commons)
The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. (Photo: F.Malotaux / Wiki Commons)

United States lawmakers are in an uproar regarding recent actions taken by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. On Tuesday, Abbas applied for membership to 15 UN bodies in what are being dubbed first steps in seeking international recognition.

American legislators have expressed their disappointment in Abbas for applying as the “state of Palestine.” Across the aisle, both Democrat and Republican leaders are calling for cutting aid to the PA should it continue to seek statehood. The PA receives annually from the U.S. some $400 million in aid.

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations & Related Programs, told Al-Monitor  that the point of U.S. assistance to the PA is part of efforts to advance a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. By reaching out to the UN, the Palestinians are sending a message that they are not ready to make peace.

“What a lot of it was, we’re going to try to help as you try to negotiate at the peace table in good faith,” she said. “Well, I can’t see that that was good faith.”

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), said that she was “extremely disappointed” with Abbas, viewing his latest decision as completely counterproductive to the peace process.

“There was a decision made last year that investigating in the PA and economic development would be the most productive step we could take to encourage peace,” Lowey said.

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U.S. lawmakers have stipulated several restrictions on the aid sent to the U.S. One of those restrictions includes that the PA must desist from joining more UN agencies and taking Israel before the International Criminal Court.

The bill states that aid would be cut if “the Palestinians obtain the same standing as member states or full membership as a state in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians.”

U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power stated that the U.S. would oppose all actions the Palestinians take in attempts to claiming statehood. Speaking to a House panel, Power said that any unilateral action taken by the PA could be “tremendously destructive” to the overall Mideast peace process.

“The United States will stand with Israel, we will defend it, and we will challenge every instance of unfair treatment throughout the UN system,” Power said. “This solemn commitment also extends to a firm opposition to any and all unilateral actions in the international arena, including on Palestinian statehood, that circumvent or prejudge the outcome that can only come about through a negotiated settlement.”

For its part, the PA has refuted all claims that it is attempting to destabilize even further the already fragile peace process. Maen Areikat, the PA’s ambassador to Washington, said that the PA had put its UN applications “on hold” as part of a previous agreement under which Israel would release 104 Palestinian terrorist prisoners.

“It was a natural reaction for us when the Israelis did not honor their commitment,” Areikat said. “I don’t understand why the United States – and the U.S. Congress – would interpret that as a step by the Palestinians to undercut or undermine U.S. efforts. From the beginning we’ve said that we are not seeking any confrontation with the United States, nor with the Congress.”

“But Congress cannot expect us to keep our part of the deal when the Israelis are reneging on their part,” Areikat added.

PA ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Khraishi told Ma’an news agency that the PA is eligible to join up to 500 international treaties and conventions. The 15 applications that were officially submitted on Wednesday would take around three to four months to be approved.

“These conventions don’t have U.S. funding like other organizations such as the World Health Organization which receives $720 million annually. So, its members will not be financially blackmailed,” Khraishi said.

The White House stated on Wednesday that it was disappointed by “unhelpful” actions of Israel and the PA.

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