TRUMP STOPS FUNDS FROM GOING TO THE PALESTINIANS

Trump administration halts Obama’s last minute transfer of $221 million to the Palestinian Authority

By Eli Leon and Daniel Siryoti

Israel Hayom
January 26, 2017

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday halted the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars to the Palestinian Authority that had been pushed forward by the former administration in its waning hours in what Republican lawmakers called an "underhanded move."

Last week, the outgoing Obama administration released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority -- funds previously held up by Republican members of Congress. More than $227 million in foreign affairs funding were released, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that President Donald Trump is drafting executive orders that would halt U.S. funding to U.N. agencies and other international bodies that grant the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization full membership.

Any organization that is "controlled or substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism" will lose its funding, as will bodies that support any activity that circumvents U.S. sanctions against Iran or North Korea.

The Trump administration is planning to slash 40% of U.S. funding to international organizations overall, the report said. The cuts could severely curtail the work of U.N. agencies, which rely heavily on billions of dollars in annual U.S. contributions.

According to other media reports, Trump is also considering designating the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.

As for the potential move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the London-based Arab newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority has received a "calming message" from Trump administration officials saying the issue will not be advanced at this time.

A Ramallah official told the daily that American officials had sought to clarify the issue, saying Trump is seeking to promote a move that would reignite American-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Still, senior Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani told Channel 10 News Wednesday that the embassy move was "not a question of 'if' but 'when.'"

Meanwhile, U.S. Consul in Jerusalem David Blum met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat in Ramallah to discuss the new administration's projected Middle East policies.

Also on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, spoke with First Lady Melania Trump to congratulate her on her new role.

"The two look forward to meeting in Washington and working together to bolster Israel-U.S. ties," a statement by the Prime Minister's Office said.