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From FY2008 to the present, annual U.S. bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has
averaged nearly $600 million, including annual averages of approximately $200 million in direct
budgetary assistance and $100 million in non-lethal security assistance for the PA in the West
Bank. Additionally, the United States is the largest single-state donor to the U.N. Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). However, whether UNRWA’s
role productively addresses the refugee issue in the context of efforts to mitigate or resolve the
larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a polarizing question, particularly with respect to
UNRWA’s presence in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Because of congressional concerns that, among other things, funds might be diverted to
Palestinian terrorist groups, U.S. aid is subject to a host of vetting and oversight requirements and
legislative restrictions. U.S. assistance to the Palestinians is given alongside assistance from other
international donors, and U.S. policymakers routinely call for greater or more timely assistance
from Arab governments in line with pledges those governments make. From FY2008 to the present, annual U.S. bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip has averaged nearly $600 million, including annual averages of approximately $200 million in direct budgetary assistance and $100 million in non-lethal security assistance for the PA in the West Bank. Additionally, the United States is the largest single-state donor to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
However, whether UNRWA’s role productively addresses the refugee issue in the context of efforts to mitigate or resolve the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a polarizing question, particularly with respect to UNRWA’s presence in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Because of congressional concerns that, among other things, funds might be diverted to Palestinian terrorist groups, U.S. aid is subject to a host of vetting and oversight requirements and legislative restrictions. U.S. assistance to the Palestinians is given alongside assistance from other international donors, and U.S. policymakers routinely call for greater or more timely assistance from Arab governments in line with pledges those governments make. Even if the immediate objectives of U.S. assistance programs for the Palestinians are met, lack of progress toward a politically legitimate and peaceful two-state solution could undermine the utility of U.S. aid in helping the Palestinians become more cohesive, stable, and self-reliant over the long term..
Originally posted by CoolStoryMan
reply to post by snapperski
WE DON'T HAVE 70 BILLION TO GIVE ANYONE, MUCH LESS ISRAEL
This is ridiculous and asinine!!!!!
Obama signs 70 BILLION DOLLAR pledge to Israel,
Despite tough fiscal times, the President fought for and secured full funding for Israel in FY 2012, including $3 billion in Foreign Military Financing – the largest amount of funding for Israel in U.S. history.
The President secured an additional $205 million in FY 2011 to help produce an Israeli-developed short-range rocket defense system called Iron Dome, which has helped defend Israeli communities against rocket attacks by successfully striking rockets as they are fired at Israeli civilians.
In July 2012, President Obama provided an additional $70 million to Israel to ensure that Israel could maximize its production of the Iron Dome system for 2012. Over the next three years, the Administration intends to request additional funding for Iron Dome, based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements against an evolving threat.