Palestinians Lose Aid as US Intensifies Anti-Statehood Campaign
Palestinians Lose Aid as US Intensifies Anti-Statehood Campaign
The Palestinian Authority received no funding pledges from its usual donors at a New York meet last week, according to Ma’an news agency.
The absence of pledges appears to be linked to the PA’s bid for statehood, in defiance of an aggressive US campaign against it.
“The Europeans said it clearly that they have paid their dues and can’t pay more. And the Arabs don’t seem to care,” a senior government official told Ma’an on condition of anonymity.
Washington has warned European countries not to support the PA’s bid to become an “observer state” at the UN, a secret memo published in part by The Guardian Monday revealed.
The memo urged Europeans “to support [American] efforts” to block the bid. The message was communicated to European representatives at the UN general assembly in New York last week.
It warned of “significant negative consequences” for the Palestinian Authority, including financial sanctions, should it go ahead with the bid.
The Palestinian economy hangs in the balance as both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip bear witness to an upsurge in inflation and unemployment. The Palestinian Authority faces a $400 million shortfall, according to the World Bank which urged donors to ramp up support, deeming it “critical”.