U.S. resumes Palestinian aid

Most of the assistance was eliminated by Trump. Republicans gear up for a fight.

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Wednesday that it has resumed U.S. 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 Trump.

The State Department announced it would provide a total of $235 million to projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as well as to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. The administration had previously announced $15 million for Palestinians to combat the pandemic.

The resumption in assistance has raised concerns in Congress from pro-Israel lawmakers who say the money may violate U.S. law.

The Associated Press has previously reported that the administration notified Congress of its intent to ramp up aid to the Palestinians, but until Wednesday it had not publicly acknowledged any assistance other than that for COVID-19.

The new assistance comes as the administration cements a new Mideast policy that in many ways is directly opposite of the one pursued by Trump.

“The United States is pleased to announce that, working with Congress, we plan to restart U.S. economic, development, and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a statement. He said the money includes $75 million in economic and development assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, $10 million for peace-building programs and $150 million for the relief agency.

Blinken sought to forestall congressional criticism by saying that “all assistance will be provided consistent with U.S. law,” but Republican members of Congress are already gearing up to fight the aid.

The White House has made no secret of its belief that Trump’s Mideast approach, which alienated the Palestinians, made prospects for peace less likely. The new assistance appears aimed at encouraging the Palestinians to return to talks with Israel, though there is no indication it will have that effect. Israel has yet to weigh in.

As Trump’s secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo accused the U.N. agency of being “riddled with waste, fraud [and] concerns of support to terrorism.”