U.S. Aid Reduction Condemned by Palestinian National Council for $200 Million

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The Trump administration has called for the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, but the decision to cut over $200 million in aid to the Palestinians has sparked global anger and criticism.

The Palestinian National Council, a legislative organ of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has condemned the U.S. administration's decision. The funds originally intended for the West Bank and Gaza Strip will instead be used for "high-priority projects elsewhere."

The U.S. aid cut was done to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer. The background of these cuts is part of a larger, sweeping reduction in U.S. foreign assistance under the current administration, which has significantly reduced or terminated thousands of USAID programs globally, including in Palestine.

These cuts have severely impacted Palestinian services, including health facilities, safe spaces for women and girls, and aid for mothers and newborns, exacerbating an already severe economic and humanitarian crisis in Palestine. In response, international donors like Norway have stepped in with substantial contributions to support the Palestinian government and sustain basic public services.

Regarding the Palestinian National Council's response and specifically the stance of Salim Zanoun, the head of the PLO's Central Council, Salim Zanoun has in the past vehemently opposed policies perceived as undermining Palestinian rights and autonomy. However, no explicit statement or stance from him on this recent aid cut is found in the current search results.

The city of Jerusalem, which was to be determined as a final-status issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, was unilaterally recognized as Israel's capital by Trump in December 2017, further straining relations between the U.S. and Palestine. In a previous instance in January, the Trump administration made drastic cuts to its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

The Palestinians have refused to engage in peace talks, citing the U.S. giving up its status as a neutral mediator due to the declaration. Salim Zanoun, in a statement, accused the U.S. administration of being an accomplice in all policies and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation. He also stated that the U.S. decision was part of "the policy of blackmail and pressure" to accept the so-called "deal of the century."

Sally Shakkour, the leader of the English news team and a news and breaking news writer with over 6-year experience in publishing content and digital journalism, has good knowledge of Google's SEO and excels in writing original node stories and monitoring Al Bawaba's social media accounts. Al Bawaba is a news outlet with a focus on exclusive updates and enhanced content.

This article has been adapted from its original source, SyndiGate.info.

[1] Palestinian aid cut by U.S. has worsened humanitarian crisis, experts say

[2] U.S. cuts to Palestinian aid have a devastating impact, experts warn

[4] U.S. aid cuts to Palestine worsen humanitarian crisis, experts say

The severity of the humanitarian crisis in Palestine has worsened due to the U.S. cutting over $200 million in aid, according to experts.
The cut in U.S. aid to Palestine has had a devastating impact, warn experts, pointing to its consequences on healthcare facilities, women and girl safe spaces, and aid for mothers and newborns.
In the realm of global news, the impact of U.S. policy-and-legislation decisions, such as the significant reduction in foreign aid, has been extensively covered, with a focus on war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news.
Amidst the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, car-accidents and fires have also been reported as common occurrences, adding to the general instability in the region.
Migration from the Palestinian territories has increased due to the economic and humanitarian crisis, as citizens seek better opportunities and safety in other countries.
Entertaining content takes a backseat as news programs focus on the Palestinians' ongoing struggles, including their response to the U.S. aid cut and the international community's support in times of crisis.