Outrage over Obama’s £177m parting gift to the Palestinians
ANGER erupted yesterday as it emerged Barack Obama quietly handed £177million to the Palestinian Authority before standing down as US President.
The payout was made in defiance of Republican opposition. It will also infuriate politicians in Congress, who previously blocked the money, and the new US President Donald Trump.
BICOM, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre, also expressed concern.
James Sorene, CEO of the think-tank, said: “The British Government has made clear that aid to the Palestinian Authority should be spent on health and education, not paid to terrorists and their families.”
He added: “Transparency and accountability are essential. I hope the new US administration monitor where this money is spent.”
Reform
Mr Trump has vowed to be a strong supporter of Israel and has invited its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington next month.
He has also pledged to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The funds are for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza and projects connected to governance and political reform.
State Department officials told Congress they would release the money just hours before Mr Trump’s inauguration last Friday.
It is understood former Secretary Of State John Kerry informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time.
The Obama administration had been pressing for the release of the money which came from the US Agency For International Development
Further American money was also released for climate Palestine’s President Abbas change programmes and to various UN agencies.
The UN money will go to projects set up to tackle sexual exploitation, environmental issues and peace building.
Palestinians have warned that moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem would kill any prospect for peace.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said a final decision is still to be made.
Israel announced plans yesterday for 2,500 more settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the second such declaration since Mr Trump took office.
Mr Obama opposed such settlements but during the election campaign Mr Trump indicated he held a Israeli leader Mr Netanyahu different view. A statement from the Israeli Defence Ministry, which administers lands captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, said the move was to fulfil demand for new housing “to maintain regular daily life”.
About 350,000 settlers live in the West Bank and 200,000 in East Jerusalem.
Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Israeli move would have “consequences” and would “reinforce extremism and terror”.
The Board Of Deputies Of British Jews declined to comment last night.