Palestinian push for statehood jeopardizes U.S. aid

DONNA CASSATA, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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WASHINGTON — The Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas have repeatedly been warned: Pursue statehood recognition at the United Nations and risk losing millions of dollars in U.S. aid.

For months, congressional Republicans and Democrats have threatened to cut off some $500 million in economic and security assistance to the Palestinians if they defy the United States and Israel by seeking statehood. The Americans and Israelis prefer negotiations between the sides leading to a two-state solution.

Congress’ forceful message has been delivered in letters to Abbas, through overwhelming bipartisan votes on resolutions and in fierce rhetoric. “Current and future aid will be jeopardized if you abandon direct negotiations and continue your efforts,” Reps.

Kay Granger, R-Texas, chairwoman of the House Appropriations foreign operations subcommittee, and Nita Lowey of New York, the panel’s top Democrat, wrote to Abbas this summer, echoing a plea they made to the Palestinian leader in an April letter. Now, faced with Abbas’ pronouncement that he will ask the U.N.

Security Council on Friday to back his statehood bid, angry lawmakers may exercise power the one way Congress can — by withholding Palestinian aid.

“The United States will reconsider its assistance program for the Palestinian Authority and other aspects of U.S.-Palestinian relations if they choose to pursue such a unilateral effort,” 58 House Democrats said in a letter to European leaders imploring them to vote against Palestinian statehood and stand with the United States.

“A unilateral declaration of independence is simply rejectionism by another name. It takes away any motivation from the Palestinians to negotiate and deal with good faith with Israel,” Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Friday in a conference call with reporters sponsored by the Hudson Institute and Touro College.

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"Palestinian push for statehood jeopardizes U.S. aid," Santa Barbara News-Press, 20 September 2011. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2011-018. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2011-018