U.S. sent $221 million to Palestinians in Obama’s last hours
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with the media in Paris on Jan. 15. Defying Republican opposition, officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.
WASHINGTON >> Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.
A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. The aides and the State Department official weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated.
The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money for the Palestinian Authority, which comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress.
The $1.25 million for U.N. agencies is to be used as voluntary contributions to the U.N. Peacebuilding Fund; the U.N. Special Coordinator on improving the U.N. response to sexual exploitation and abuse; the Montreal Protocol Secretariat, which oversees the protection of the ozone layer; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and the U.N. System Staff College.
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The $4 million for climate programs includes assistance for clean energy, sustainable landscapes, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and creating a climate technology center.
The last-minute allocation also contained $1.05 million in funding for the State Department’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan office and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
The Palestinian funding is likely to draw anger from some in Congress as well as the Trump White House. Trump has vowed to be a strong supporter of Israel and has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington next month.
He has also pledged to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday a final decision on that had yet to be made. Despite speculation in Israel that an announcement of the move is imminent, Spicer said the decision-making process is only in its very early stages.
“If it was already a decision, then we wouldn’t be going through a process,” Spicer told reporters.
21 responses to “U.S. sent $221 million to Palestinians in Obama’s last hours”
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Geez, O’bama had to spend more money even as he’s leaving office? Goodbye!
If true, such an act is unconscionable. The U.S. has sent millions to the Palestinians. Unfortunately, little money seems to reach those in need. When Arafat left office he had 300 million diverted to his private account in Switzerland. The former administration has no business making secret (Iran), or last minute money transfers. As usual, 90 % of the public are not aware or could care less, but they can tell you where the Kardashians are today.
IRT Keolu, and why to the Palestinians when many Americans have needs right here in our Country?
Moving the US embassy to Jerusalem is a bad move for Israel and a bad move for America. I hope Trump will start to stand up to Israeli coercion. We have paid a very heavy price to support this dangerous right-wing regime in Israel. Many Jews agree with me. Put America First for a change Mr. Trump!
@ allie
you ok hon?
Yes Keoni, it looks like Allie may be coming around to Trump’s message of “Put America First”. No more giveaways of billions and billions to Israel when our own children can’t read, our highways are crumbling and our factories are rotting!
Allie is starting to get it. This is good. Let’s hope you are not going to continue undermining Trump’s call for solidarity, or worse, becoming a TINO (Trump In Name Only). You don’t want us to start calling you a LOSER do you?
You got it Allie, America First!
Trump won and that’s his motto.
Yippee!
Barack huINSANE Obama…THE WORST potus in American history.
Obama is the racist he hates the people of Israel with a passion.
And who said Obama wasn’t a Muslim?
BO is the worst President this country has ever had.
I wonder how much Obama will get as a kickback?
Obama: More proof that this was the worst president in history. Sending $221 million in US taxpayer funds to this Palestinian organization was a horrendous act knowing the people voted for a new president who was being sworn in later in the day… Unbelievable!!!
Is the US monitoring how the monies given to foreign countries are used for its intended purpose and not used for any anti US activities or against our allies……
Good thing Trump is the President. Now you know why America is in debt. We giving money to a lot of countries who really don’t care for Americans. This has to stop. Make America beautiful again.
Agreed, Lokela.
No more $billions and $bililions for Israel.
America First!
American taxpayers gave Israel $3.6 billion per in Military aid ($9.8 million per day) in 2016. By all accounts the United States has given more money to Israel than to any other country. The Congressional Research Service’s conservative estimate of total cumulative US aid to Israel from 1949 through 2015 is $127.4 billion (not adjusted for inflation). The inflation-adjusted total is much much higher.
Contrary to ordinary U.S. policy, Israel has been and continues to be allowed to use approximately 26% of U.S. military aid to purchase equipment from Israeli Arms manufacturers.
No other recipient of U.S. military assistance has been granted this benefit, and this has allowed the Israel’s arms industry to become one of the strongest in the world. In 2015, Israel sold $5.7 billion in military goods to other countries. This is killing American jobs.
For example, US Arms makers are competing against the Israelis in the Indian defense procurement market at the same time we are subsidizing the Israeli defense industry. Does this make any sense?
The U.S. government estimates that Israel is using approximately $1.2 billion each year (38.7% of the aid it receives from the U.S.) to “directly support its domestic budget rather than to build on its arsenal of advanced US equipment.” Israel has used American tax dollars to pay for its state of the art infrastructure, excellent education system, and massive border-security walls. They built a beautiful wall and WE PAID FOR IT!
Enough pampering of Israel while the American people suffer.
Trump is so right. America First!
Trump is going to fix this injustice, revoke Obama’s obsolete giveaway to Israel, negotiate for America, and MAKE THEM PAY just like he’s going to do for NATO and the UN.
Heck, NATO joined the US in its post-9-11 military response and shed blood for us with boots on the ground in Afghanistan. Where was Israel? Crickets…
If Israel wants American military support, they are going to have to pay instead of just fomenting conflict and then profiting off of selling military equipment to the combatants.
Danno – the money in the article went to the Palestinians – the sworn enemy of Israel. Unless there are checks in place, money might just end up being used in the Gaza or to fund Hamas and other terrorist organizations. You can google and spout numbers all day, but it doesn’t tell the full story of a surrounded country under assault. Israel is our ONLY ally in the region and Mr. Obama used any opportunity he could (along with Kerry/Clinton) to make life tough. I’m all for the President and saving money we could use back home like you. We might look at ways military aid to the country can work better for us – but let’s not pull the rug out from under their feet the way Obama did.
Barry and Michelle will probably get fully funded luxury Palestinian Kwanzaa vacations for life now, and how wonderful it will be to spend each New Year in another free palace, and one where he won’t have to bring his own prayer rug!
What B.O. did is an outrage. To the lefties – I feel the same way about him as you do about Trump.