America’s cut to aid in Palestine promises greater regional instability

At the moment, the Palestinian people need global support. Cutting funding is not the answer to resolving its problems.

FOREIGN AID remains essential for Palestinian civil society, community peacebuilding and the implementation of important programs. The Palestinian organisations, however, have been dealing with the most severe financial crisis since Trump administration ended humanitarian contributions to the United Nations Relief and Working Agency (UNRWA) and assistance to Palestinians in 2018, total $65 million, contrasted with $359.3 million in 2017.

This cut included $231.532 million of 2017 bilateral economic assistance that was originally intended for the West Bank and Gaza, including $25 million for East Jerusalem hospitals. The USAID also ended its assistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and prevented Palestinians from participating in conflict management and mitigation programs. This program involves the Israelis and Palestinians generally receiving $10 million annually.

Read the article by Ibrahim Natil on Independent Australia.