JAKARTA - The United States government, under the leadership of President Joe Biden, has decided to continue providing aid to the Palestinians, which Donald Trump briefly stopped while serving as president.
The aid value this time amounted to 235 million U.S. dollars (U.S.) or about Rp3,420,131,250,000. The package, including humanitarian, economic and development assistance, was detailed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as part of efforts to improve the United States' nearly collapsed relations with Palestine during Trump's tenure.
The granting of aid is also President Joe Biden's most significant since taking office, to keep the promise of undoing a number of policies and approaches taken by Donald Trump. That includes a halt to aid for the Palestinians, which has been denounced as biased in israel's favor.
The aid plan consists of 150 million dollars (U.S.) through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid agency under the United Nations (UN), 75 million U.S. dollars in U.S. economic and development assistance, and 10 million U.S. dollars for peace-building programs," Blinken said in a statement.
"The United States is pleased to announce that, in cooperation with Congress, we plan to restart U.S. economic, development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people," Blinken told Reuters Thursday, April 8.
President Joe Biden's ministers also hinted they wanted to re-establish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, the next big step is believed to be awaiting the outcome of israel's general elections in March, as well as the Palestinian elections to be held in the coming months.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office welcomed Biden's commitment to a two-state solution as well as renewed aid. Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh wrote on Twitter, "We call on the American government to create a new political path that fulfills the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people,".
However, this move inflamed Israel. Israel's Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations Gilad Erdan, criticized the renewal of funding for UNRWA. He said it allowed anti-Israel incitement and anti-Semitic activity at its facilities.
"We believe that the UN agency for these so-called refugees should not exist in the current format," he said in a video uploaded on Twitter.
Disclosed by him, in conversations with the United States State Department, he has expressed disappointment and objection to the decision to renew UNRWA funding, without first ensuring reforms have been implemented. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Trump, has previously called for the dismantling of UNRWA.
Instead, Blinken said President Joe Biden's administration will seek reforms at UNRWA, which the Trump administration has accused of being inefficient, outnumbering Palestinian refugees and perpetuating a decades-long conflict with Israel.
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed that aid will be allocated 'strictly in accordance' with United States law.
He rejected critics who have expressed concern that funds could fall into the hands of militants, especially in Gaza, where Hamas rules, saying there are safeguards.
Uncle Sam's State law also prohibits aid that benefits the Palestinian Authority while still paying benefits to Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for anti-Israel attacks or to their families.
For the record, Donald Trump's administration blocked almost all aid to the Palestinians, including funds for (UNRWA) after severing ties with the Authority in 2018. The move is widely seen as an attempt to force the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel.
The cuts came after Palestinian leaders decided to boycott the Trump administration's peace efforts, over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. And, move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Separately, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini told Reuters the new funding was welcome. However, the agency has not been out of the growing need for refugees exacerbated by COVID-19 and the crisis in Lebanon.
The UN also welcomed the resumption of UNRWA funding. "There are a number of countries that have greatly reduced to stop contributions to UNRWA. We hope the American decision will lead others to rejoin as UNRWA donors," said U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarri
We welcome the resumption of US aid to UNRWA & Palestine, and we call upon the American administration to create a new political path that meets the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people based on international law and UN resolutions.
— Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh د. محمد اشتية (@DrShtayyeh) April 7, 2021
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