Palestinian aid

The Biden Administration yesterday announced a resumption of United States assistance to the Palestinians, including to the United Nations agency that deals with Palestinian refugees, nearly all of which had been eliminated by former President Donald Trump. The State Department said it would provide US$235 million ($335m) to projects in the West Bank and Gaza as well as to the UN Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA. While the resumption in assistance was met with concern from Israel and opposition in Congress from pro-Israel lawmakers, who claim the money may violate US law, it was welcomed by the UN, UNRWA and the Palestinians. The announcement came on the same day President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict in a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.