Trump redirects over $200 million in U.S. aid for West Bank, Gaza

 

Fishing boats are seen at the seaport of Gaza City August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the State Department to "redirect" more than $200 million (£155.7 million) in economic aid for projects in the West Bank and Gaza to programs elsewhere, a department official said on Friday.

 

"We have undertaken a review of U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

"As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million in FY2017 Economic Support Funds originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza. Those funds will now address high-priority projects elsewhere."

 

The official added that the decision took into account "the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza’s citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation."

 

The official did not say to where the funds would be redirected.

 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the Palestinians have warned that cuts could exacerbate hardship in Gaza, an enclave that has been under Israeli and Egypt blockades designed to isolate its Islamist Hamas rulers.

 

U.S. National Security adviser John Bolton told Reuters this week that UNRWA, which extends aid to Palestinians displaced by the 1948 war of Israel's founding and to millions of their descendants, was "a failed mechanism" that violated standard international law on the status of refugees.

 

"I think it is long overdue that we have taken steps to reduce funding," Bolton said, adding that "much of UNRWA's expenses really go to perpetuating the refugee status of the Palestinian people."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-25

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

Trump did well to redirect those useless handout to a better, much more needed and appreciated elsewhere...

4 minutes ago, ezzra said:

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

Trump did well to redirect those useless handout to a better, much more needed and appreciated elsewhere...

UNRWA supports 1.4 million registered Palestinian refugees throughout the M.E. The UNRWA definition of the term refugee, includes the patrilineal descendants of the original "Palestine refugees", but is limited to persons residing in UNRWA's areas of operation.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_refugees

 

https://www.unrwa.org/

 

We are all well aware of Trump and Bolton's hard right political positions. The OP decision is a politically driven matter which provides no facts, nor do you, that UNRWA is diverting funds to HAMAS or families of killed terrorists.

You say UNRWA you said a UN body that thrives on beis and hypocrisy, and for how long, praytell, can a person be called a refugee? if this is the case, than there must be billions of 'refugees' all over the world, any person and his or her descended that happend to move away from their home for any reason in the history of the world is also a refugee? nah, the palestinians got used to the easy money and used this excuse of being where they're now...

22 minutes ago, ezzra said:

You say UNRWA you said a UN body that thrives on beis and hypocrisy, and for how long, praytell, can a person be called a refugee? if this is the case, than there must be billions of 'refugees' all over the world, any person and his or her descended that happend to move away from their home for any reason in the history of the world is also a refugee? nah, the palestinians got used to the easy money and used this excuse of being where they're now...

Get off your soapbox. There are currently 24 million officially recognised refugees worldwide by the UN, 10 million stateless, 40 million IDPs etc.

 

http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/figures-at-a-glance.html

 

You have already been provided with the official definition for Palestinian refugees, so enough of the nonsense. But just for you, more detail...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_refugees#Palestinian_definitions

 

In your opinion Palestinian refugees have an easy life??? Go and live in Gaza, a Palestinian refugee camp and so on for six months and report back...

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

Trump did well to redirect those useless handout to a better, much more needed and appreciated elsewhere...

This post is read in the context of all your other posts referring to Palestine and Palestinians.

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Get off your soapbox. There are currently 24 million officially recognised refugees worldwide by the UN, 10 million stateless, 40 million IDPs etc.

 

http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/figures-at-a-glance.html

 

You have already been provided with the official definition for Palestinian refugees, so enough of the nonsense. But just for you, more detail...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_refugees#Palestinian_definitions

 

In your opinion Palestinian refugees have an easy life??? Go and live in Gaza, a Palestinian refugee camp and so on for six months and report back...

So according to your logics, in another 100 years there will be like 50 millions Palestinians refugees right, so this refugee status stay with you forever? and forever the world will have to pay their lazy ways and boohoo we're refugees?

thanks for trump that see through these lies and decits...

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This post is read in the context of all your other posts referring to Palestine and Palestinians.

Yes, you're correct, as long as the palestinians think that the world owes them a living worth billions year after year after year while they engaged in terrorism and self pity, the context of my post will be same...

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

Trump did well to redirect those useless handout to a better, much more needed and appreciated elsewhere...

The solution is easy.
Israel created the refugee problem; they can uncreate it.
Israel initially allows in an orderly gradual security-vetted manner Palestinian refugees who were actually born within Israel along with their immediate families, in accordance with international law.

 

They would no longer be refugees. They could become productive members of Israeli society. The UN and USA would no longer need to provide funds, and the olive branch would be a beacon of detente for the entire region.

Edited August 25, 20187 yr by dexterm

Just another way for trump to hurt the disadvantaged it’s his thing it’s what he does

58 minutes ago, dexterm said:

Israel created the refugee problem; they can uncreate it.

 

Nonsense.  Islam created the refugee problem with its pathological hatred of Jews rooted in the teachings of Mohammed and the Koran.  If it weren't for that, Israel would have been safe within its own borders.

 

Let Moslem countries sort out the mess.  Perhaps Saudi Arabia could take in a million or two refugees.  It's surely rich enough, and has plenty of space.*?

 

 

* Saudi Arabia has never accepted refugees from any part of the world.  I guess "the religion of peace" isn't also one of compassion.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

So according to your logics, in another 100 years there will be like 50 millions Palestinians refugees right, so this refugee status stay with you forever? and forever the world will have to pay their lazy ways and boohoo we're refugees?

thanks for trump that see through these lies and decits...

What are you talking about, really weird assumptions; I referred to UN policy, nothing to do with me personally. To repeat definition of refugees is globally accepted by numerous nations, rejection of the current definitions are politically motivated, more often than not by the right of centre. The Palestinian refugee question is not settled. The outstanding Palestinian refugee issue lays at the feet of both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, it ain't a one way street. 

 

Trump has the answer for the Palestinian refugee issue, just like his claims he will have a resolution of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict within months - BS 

 

Again I ask you, where is the proof for Bolton's assertions regards UNRWA.

Edited August 25, 20187 yr by simple1

19 minutes ago, Oxx said:

<snip> * Saudi Arabia has never accepted refugees from any part of the world.  I guess "the religion of peace" isn't also one of compassion.

Repeated misinformation by the right - incorrect - check your facts. Could start with approx 300k Rohingya in the 1970s

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

Trump did well to redirect those useless handout to a better, much more needed and appreciated elsewhere...

How is it even conceivable that Israel just gives them SOME OF THEIR OWN LAND back?

Not difficult.

I know you are a Zionist and you expect the world to have pity on your people from the atrocities of WW II, but how about pity on the displaced people by the country of The Jews?

Yeah, thought so. One rule for your lot and one rule for the Palestinians.

Shameful.

It's about time that someone got the balls to stop wasting peoples money,,, that's what it is peoples hard earned money,,,,, the rest of the world should take note what DT is doing ,,,Look after ones own country  peoples First ,there is enough suffering and homeless people in ones country . The UN Hypocrites should stay out of trying to Bully countries  to waste their peoples money ,Let them look after themselves and their Followers.

4 hours ago, simple1 said:

Get off your soapbox. There are currently 24 million officially recognised refugees worldwide by the UN, 10 million stateless, 40 million IDPs etc.

 

http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/figures-at-a-glance.html

 

You have already been provided with the official definition for Palestinian refugees, so enough of the nonsense. But just for you, more detail...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_refugees#Palestinian_definitions

 

In your opinion Palestinian refugees have an easy life??? Go and live in Gaza, a Palestinian refugee camp and so on for six months and report back...

 

It takes the average Palestinian four to six hours round trip, to cross into Israel, and get back home, to get back and forth to any meaningful job, due to the draconian security measures, by Israeli forces. That is not exactly what I would describe as a high quality of life. 

 

 A two state solution is the only solution possible at this point. Unless Israel is content to continue it's apartheid policies. 

Good move.

38 minutes ago, digger70 said:

It's about time that someone got the balls to stop wasting peoples money,,, that's what it is peoples hard earned money,,,,, the rest of the world should take note what DT is doing ,,,Look after ones own country  peoples First ,there is enough suffering and homeless people in ones country . The UN Hypocrites should stay out of trying to Bully countries  to waste their peoples money ,Let them look after themselves and their Followers.

Got a link to Trump Admin diverting monies from Palestinian funding / international aid for welfare projects in the US? - thought not

Redirect the money back to America. It's a drop in the bucket, but it's a start.

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

How is it even conceivably possible that millions of palestinians still classified themselves a 'refugees' 70 years later, according to a UN estimate, there are about 40 thousands of the original displaced people still living, but the world has been burdened with supporting millions of their descended that also claim themselves to be refugees, and for the last 70 years has done nothing to better their lives mainly because of its leadership who got used to the billions in handouts over the years,

much of it was used for nefarious purposes like funding terrorism and paying salaries to terrorists either dead or in Israeli prisons,  

When you quote from a source word for word, you should cite who or what wrote it or said it.

Your last sentence is obviously your own creation.

As an American, I think foreign aid in general should be increased, not decreased. It's called SOFT POWER, and it's historically much more effective and much cheaper in the long run than wars. Of course "trump" with his fascistic xenophobic "America First" rhetoric (which in the American historical context literally references an American fascist, pro-Nazi, isolationist movement) is just playing his toxic feed the base red meat game with this move. 

Edited August 25, 20187 yr by Jingthing

Wow hey.... straight into the gutter.

 

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the State Department to "redirect" more than $200 million (£155.7 million) in economic aid for projects in the West Bank and Gaza to programs elsewhere, a department official said on Friday.

Is this about refugees, or about “aid for projects in the West Bank” ?

 

“aid” I think, not nessesarily refugee funding, which is quoted as being a United Nations agency ( dispersing funds)... so Bolton just dropped in a red herring to get the fan base going.... deception!

 

whilst normally posting in support of isreals self defense policy, in this case, I’m disappointed to read about aid being stopped... about humanitarian projects being shelved... I think it’s abissmal to use aid as a stick, whilst throwing moral obligations out the window

 

only a heartless bustard (that’s a large bird, right?) would be happy to see non combatants deprived of this aid.... in an area most needing aid (worldwide)

 

This decision is as irresponsible as moving the US embassy... made coincidentally, by the same person.... perhaps another more benevolent government can step up and redirect aid from where ever trumps redirects US aid to, thus balancing the scales again (and further alienate the US for international alliances.... lol... trumps legacy, turning enemies into friends)

3 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

How is it even conceivable that Israel just gives them SOME OF THEIR OWN LAND back?

Not difficult.

I know you are a Zionist and you expect the world to have pity on your people from the atrocities of WW II, but how about pity on the displaced people by the country of The Jews?

Yeah, thought so. One rule for your lot and one rule for the Palestinians.

Shameful.

A narrow view of history, is why this is an oft discussed topic.

 

its not about the atrocities of WW2.... its about the Last 2000 years of persecution of the Jewish dispora, including the atrocities of 13th century England (for English nay sayers)... WW2 was the proverbial straw.

 

the Jews were displaced by the people that they are now displacing....   so been given “some of their own land back” (shouted... lol... ), is really tantamount to being given land back, that their ancestors took from the Jews.... so in reality, your lot are using the one rule dogma, by not recognizing this.

 

but never mind, as it’s a little OT... this is about aid being withdrawn by trump, not the Jewish or Palestinian dispora.... this is trump discriminating against those his fan base approve of him discriminating against, and using his power for yet another irresponsible international decisions.... these manifold foreign policy decisions are largely what has turned non US citizens against trump, augmented lately by the occasional high profile domestic issue.

3 hours ago, digger70 said:

It's about time that someone got the balls to stop wasting peoples money,,, that's what it is peoples hard earned money,,,,, the rest of the world should take note what DT is doing ,,,Look after ones own country  peoples First ,there is enough suffering and homeless people in ones country . The UN Hypocrites should stay out of trying to Bully countries  to waste their peoples money ,Let them look after themselves and their Followers.

????? odd.... as a P5 member of the United Nations, the US is probably the biggest bully at the table, most recently hilighted by withdrawing from the human rights council.... 

 

they withdrew over other nations positions on isreal, and are now beating the sh one t out of isreals foe, with the economic stick, which is a step too far.... but seemingly, one of trumps favorite weapons, so no surprises there.

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

So according to your logics, in another 100 years there will be like 50 millions Palestinians refugees right, so this refugee status stay with you forever? and forever the world will have to pay their lazy ways and boohoo we're refugees?

thanks for trump that see through these lies and decits...

If this is still an issue in 100 yrs that is an indictment of a world broken not and indictment of Palistinian refugees.

2 hours ago, zydeco said:

Redirect the money back to America. It's a drop in the bucket, but it's a start.

Meanwhile....

U.S. Finalizes Deal to Give Israel $38 Billion in Military Aid

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-military-aid.html

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

Yes, you're correct, as long as the palestinians think that the world owes them a living worth billions year after year after year while they engaged in terrorism and self pity, the context of my post will be same...

You are accusing the Palestinians of living on other people’s billions, Terrorism and self pity.

 

You’re trolling.

I'm not going to dive into the solutions for the Israel/Palestinian issue, but I will wade into the subject of ongoing classification of refugees.

It's lunacy to continue to classify these people as refugees after 70 years.

And to put this in context, the largest forced migration and expulsion in human history, which has been conveniently forgotten about when people bleat on about the Palestinians, was the ethnic Germans expelled from Eastern Europe after WW2.

Should they still be entitled to a UN handout?

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rm-douglas/expulsion-germans-forced-migration_b_1625437.html

Edited August 25, 20187 yr by GinBoy2

 

@dexterm

 

Solution are "easy" only in your simplistic posts.

 

Israel is not the sole cause of the Palestinian refugee problem - at the very least, Palestinian leadership and Arab countries had something to do with it as well.

 

Other than in your nonsense posts, Israel is not actually obligated to accept Palestinian refugees as falsely asserted. This isn't just about "security vetting" - the supposed returnees will have to accept Israel's sovereignty, and declare no hostile intentions (this would include much of the political agenda items you push on your rants). Other than this being not realistic without a general agreement, your "easy" solution disregards Palestinian positions on the issue, and on accepting Israel's existence and sovereignty.

 

Palestinians who were born within Israel would be elderly by now - never mind lacking language or professional skills. That you taut "productive members of society" is nonsense. As for "immediate families" - that's a rather vague term, and I doubt if it realistically well-suited.

 

I think you'll find that extra funds will be needed anyway, probably more. Re-settlement in Israel would be cost a pretty sum.

 

Either way, the topic isn't really even about solving the Palestinian refugee problem.

 

 

7 hours ago, simple1 said:

What are you talking about, really weird assumptions; I referred to UN policy, nothing to do with me personally. To repeat definition of refugees is globally accepted by numerous nations, rejection of the current definitions are politically motivated, more often than not by the right of centre. The Palestinian refugee question is not settled. The outstanding Palestinian refugee issue lays at the feet of both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, it ain't a one way street. 

 

Trump has the answer for the Palestinian refugee issue, just like his claims he will have a resolution of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict within months - BS 

 

Again I ask you, where is the proof for Bolton's assertions regards UNRWA.

 

If you wish to claim rejecting the current definition of refugee status (as they apply to Palestinians) is "politically motivated", you'll need to address the formation and maintenance of this definition being "politically motivated" as well.