Obama orders waiver on ban of aid to Palestinians
Aug 3, 2013 23:42:35 GMT -5
Post by PurplePuppy on Aug 3, 2013 23:42:35 GMT -5
Obama bypasses Congress, orders waiver on ban of aid to Palestinians
Government Topics
By: Joe Newby
Republican newsletter
On Friday, President Obama waived congressional restrictions and ordered another $148 million to the Palestinian Authority, claiming it was in the “national security interests” of the United States, the Washington Times said.
According to the Times, the move comes as the administration prepares to host direct talks in Washington between Palestinians and Israelis for the first time since 2010.
In March, the Times said, Obama directed about $500 million in aid to the Palestinians, bypassing congressional restrictions.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said at the time that he was seeking to give another $200 million to the Palestinians.
In late April, Obama did another end-run around Congress and ordered $192 million in aid to the Palestinians.
According to the Times of Israel, the restrictions were put in place after Mahmoud Abbas "defied US pressure and sought to attain UN endorsement of Palestinian statehood last September."
The Times reported that Section 3 of Congress’s Palestinian Accountability Act says that "no funds available to any United States Government department or agency … may be obligated or expended with respect to providing funds to the Palestinian Authority.”
At the time, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey explained that since Hamas reconciled with Fatah and has rejoined the Palestinian Authority, U.S. taxpayers are "putting almost $200 million into the hands of a terrorist organization."
Now, Obama is seeking to give those same organizations another $148 million, despite congressional objections.
"Some lawmakers oppose the aid, both because of sequestration budget cuts and the Palestinian Authority’s ties to the terrorist organization Hamas," the Washington Times added.
Recently, Obama threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill, citing a 1.8 percent pay increase for uniformed military personnel. The administration only wants troops to receive a one percent increase and demands troops pay more for health care.
www.examiner.com/article/obama-bypasses-congress-orders-waiver-on-ban-of-aid-to-palestinians
Government Topics
By: Joe Newby
Republican newsletter
On Friday, President Obama waived congressional restrictions and ordered another $148 million to the Palestinian Authority, claiming it was in the “national security interests” of the United States, the Washington Times said.
According to the Times, the move comes as the administration prepares to host direct talks in Washington between Palestinians and Israelis for the first time since 2010.
In March, the Times said, Obama directed about $500 million in aid to the Palestinians, bypassing congressional restrictions.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said at the time that he was seeking to give another $200 million to the Palestinians.
In late April, Obama did another end-run around Congress and ordered $192 million in aid to the Palestinians.
According to the Times of Israel, the restrictions were put in place after Mahmoud Abbas "defied US pressure and sought to attain UN endorsement of Palestinian statehood last September."
The Times reported that Section 3 of Congress’s Palestinian Accountability Act says that "no funds available to any United States Government department or agency … may be obligated or expended with respect to providing funds to the Palestinian Authority.”
At the time, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey explained that since Hamas reconciled with Fatah and has rejoined the Palestinian Authority, U.S. taxpayers are "putting almost $200 million into the hands of a terrorist organization."
Now, Obama is seeking to give those same organizations another $148 million, despite congressional objections.
"Some lawmakers oppose the aid, both because of sequestration budget cuts and the Palestinian Authority’s ties to the terrorist organization Hamas," the Washington Times added.
Recently, Obama threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill, citing a 1.8 percent pay increase for uniformed military personnel. The administration only wants troops to receive a one percent increase and demands troops pay more for health care.
www.examiner.com/article/obama-bypasses-congress-orders-waiver-on-ban-of-aid-to-palestinians