BREAKING : State Dept Reviewing Obama’s $221 Million Palestinian “Parting Gift”
The State Department announced Tuesday that it will review the last-minute decision by former Secretary of State John Kerry to send $221 million to the Palestinians late last week over the objections of congressional Republicans.
The department said it would look at the payment and might make adjustments to ensure it comports with the Trump administration’s priorities.
Kerry formally notified Congress that State would release the money Friday morning, just hours before President Trump took the oath of office.
Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated.
Granger released a statement Tuesday saying, “I am deeply disappointed that President Obama defied congressional oversight and released $221 million to the Palestinian territories.”
She added: “I worked to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars would fund the Palestinian Authority unless very strict conditions were met. While none of these funds will go to the Palestinian Authority because of those conditions, they will go to programs in the Palestinian territories that were still under review by Congress. The Obama Administration’s decision to release these funds was inappropriate.”
The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money, which comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is to be used to fund humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms and to help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress.
The Palestinian funding is likely to draw anger from some in Congress as well as the Trump White House. Trump has vowed to be a strong supporter of Israel and has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington next month.
Trump appears to be approaching the Middle East differently then the Obama administration.
H/T – FoxNews
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We could use that $221 million to fund construction of a border wall rather than give it away to the Arabs.
Agree
They better make it last because its the last money from us they will ever see .
This is totally absurd! I hope that there is some way that President Trump can reverse this! Because the US needs and could use that money and so many different areas!
Obama should be arrested for treason !!!
Obama Has thrown are money away To other countries . Where that money could be used right to help our Veterans and Our Military and Our People. Please Keep our Money in Our Country
No one will ever convince me that Obama did not commit treason multiple times during his presidency. His sorry a$$ should be prosecuted.
Do not pay Obama any money that ex-presidents get for salary, healthcare and funding for his library until is paid back.
“I worked to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars would fund the Palestinian Authority unless very strict conditions were met.”
There is no “unless!” This isn’t YOUR money to send to our enemies, this is We the People’s money and we worked damm hard for it. How dare you squander OUR money like it’s candy! You want to support the Palestinian Authority? Send them your own damm money!