FOREIGN POLICY/PALESTINE/UN: “The United Nations Wednesday [1-17-18] called on countries to bolster funding to Palestinian refugees, warning of a collapse in health-care and education services, after the White House withheld about half its pledged financial aid to a key institution that supports the displaced people.
The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, or Unrwa, in a statement said it would seek a ‘large-scale commitment’ from member states to ensure schools and health clinics that service Palestinian refugees would remain open throughout 2018. The U.S. move to withhold monies would mean the body faces a ‘formidable challenge’ in upholding its international mandate to support displaced Palestinians in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Israeli-controlled Palestinian territories, Unrwa said…
The U.S. move adds further pressure on Palestinian leaders, who have accused President Donald Trump of aligning with Israel and are now scrambling for a strategy to achieve statehood after recent diplomatic setbacks such as a White House policy change on Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, the U.S. said it would give $60 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, or Unrwa, after previously agreeing to deliver $125 million in its first installment this year. The cut followed complaints by Mr. Trump that the U.S. pays Palestinians millions of dollars a year but receives no ‘respect’ in return.
The U.S. is the largest donor to the Unrwa, contributing $368 million last year to a total international budget of $1.24 billion…
Relations between the U.S. and Palestinians are at the lowest point in years, with the U.S. move to withhold aid coming after a sries of clashes between the White House and Palestinian leaders.”
-Rory Jones, “U.N. Calls for More Aid for Palestinian Refugees After U.S. Cut,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 17, 2018 06:08am