Palestinian Aid on the Chopping Block

Palestinian Aid on the Chopping Block

The Senate is currently considering three amendments to a defense spending bill that would reduce or eliminate funding for the Palestinian Authority including funding for hospitals, schools, water, and electricity. This comes in the wake of UN action on Thursday to upgrade the PA’s status in the General Assembly.

Say “No” to Palestinian Aid Cuts!
Click here to take action now!

The Senate is currently considering three amendments to a defense spending bill that would reduce or eliminate funding for the Palestinian Authority including funding for hospitals, schools, water, and electricity. This comes in the wake of UN action on Thursday to upgrade the PA’s status in the General Assembly.

The funding in question includes $370 million for budget support for the Palestinian Authority. This funding is essential to humanitarian programs such as the Augusta Victoria Hospital (a project of Lutheran World Federation) in East Jerusalem. In addtion, $70 million would be cut in aid for security programs that have been essential to enabling the PA to police the West Bank and cooperate with Israel to reduce terrror attacks.

Absent this funding, conditions could quickly deteriorate and further complicate the Obama Administration’s efforts to bring the two parties together. For the sake of peace, these cuts can’t happen. These cuts will harm innocent Palestinian civilians. Tell your senator to say no to aid cuts! Click here to take action now!

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a coalition of 24 national Church denominations and organizations, including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. It works to encourage U.S. government policies that actively promote a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensuring security, human rights and religious freedom for all people of the region.