What's With the Money?

In the past, I have published multiple blog posts and a few opeds (2014) on the funding provided by the United States and connected groups to the Arab population in Judea and Samaria which specifically ignores or discriminates against Jewish residents in that same geographical area.

Some examples: here; here; here; and here. There ae many more, going back years. And they include monies for student grants, programs, events, etc.

I had the opportunity recently to engage with an aide to a member of the House Appropriations Committee and I raised the issue, pointing out, besides the discrimination, that getting the two populations to work together on non-politial onerns and interests could possibly lead to a coexistence breakthrough and ultimately, achieve the goals of the programs. My impression was that the matter wasn't seen to be all that the important and moreover, that the discrimination has been dealt with.

So I checked at the website of the Palestinian Affairs Unit which is the former East Jerusalem American Consulate under another name. The Embassy-sponsored programs are separate.

Here are the details of one such aid program, the American Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative. Its objectives they have defined as

the U.S.OPA-PD mission: to advance a comprehensive and lasting peace through a negotiated two-state solution [no other option exists?] to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the development of a vibrant, representative, and responsive Palestinian civil society, private sector, and governing institutions through substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas and ideals in order to improve American-Palestinian relations and create greater opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation.

So, to improve "Palestinian-Israeli/Jewish residents" is outside the purview of the initiative?

What is its "Priority Region"? Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza or a combination of two or three of them. The goal, though, really is to "increase understanding and collaboration between Americans and Palestinians" only.

Eligible primary applicants for grant funding must be not-for-profit Palestinian and/or American organizations working with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and/or Gaza.

Another, now closed, funded program involves Journalism Capacity Building. Participants must be "Journalists, media professionals, social media professionals, journalism university students from the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem." Does that include Jewish residents of those areas? Probably not as we read that a goal of the program is to: 

"Improve writing skills for journalists in specialized fields such as gender issues, entrepreneurship and business, economics, technology, foreign policy, democracy, and human rights, environmental issues, and other issues of interest to the United States and Palestinians;" 

as well as to 

"Increase awareness and understanding of American culture, media, society, history and/or current events, as well as of shared American-Palestinian values and interests.

"Palestinians" are who exactly?

This third recent example truly highlights the point I am making: its all about 'forget about the Israelis and the Jews living amongst the Arab population of Judea and Samaria'. It is named the: U.S. Public Diplomacy Palestinian Peacebuilding Program

It is "designed to partner with Palestinian, American, and International non-profit/non-governmental to implement activities which advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S.OPA-PD mission: to advance a comprehensive and lasting peace through a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 

The Priority Region, again, is: Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza or a combination of two or three of them. 

The goals are to: Promote negotiation, non-violence, social change, and civic education; Build capacity of peacebuilding institutions and organizations led by Palestinians; Advance equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography (!!!) 

And who are the eligible Participants and Audiences?

Palestinians in East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza. Preference will be given to Palestinian organizations when possible.

I do see that what is not eligible for funding inludes projects relating that support specific religious activities or promote only one faith/religion. But only when type of resident is what is at the basis of this all. 

No mixing. No mingling. Who knows what it might lead to?

Other programs: Advancing Palestinian Women’s Entrepreneurship Program; Media Literacy Training and so on like a joint dance show in Bethlehem between Palestinian and American dancers that was preceded by a joint workshop (Palestinian = no Israeli Jews).

If that is what the US wants to be, there'll be no coexistence, no empathy, no cooperation and no compromise, no solution and no peace.

_________

UPDATE    from August 19-26, 2022

In the West Bank, Senior Official Allen will discuss U.S. support for English language teaching and meet Palestinian alumni leaders of U.S. exchange programs.  Senior Official Allen will also join the visit of a U.S. Sports Envoy and participate in their skills-building program for youth.

In Jerusalem, Senior Official Allen will visit the U.S. Embassy’s American Center Jerusalem and learn more about public diplomacy programming innovations in science, technology, education, and entrepreneurship.  She will meet with alumni of U.S. exchange programs from diverse communities, including Haredi, Arabic-speaking, Bedouin, Ethiopian, and Druze.

Senior Official Allen will also meet with counterparts in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss efforts to counter public disinformation campaigns and Holocaust distortion, as well as ways to facilitate continued U.S.-Israel academic exchanges, such as the Fulbright Program.

^

Throwing Good Money After Bad - $310 Million

For the record, from the State Department Press Briefing – April 7, 2021 

by Ned Price, Department Spokesperson

MR PRICE: ...And today, we’re pleased to announce that, working with Congress, we plan to restart the U.S. economic – U.S. economic, development, security, and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. It includes $75 million in economic and development assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, 10 million for peacebuilding programs through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and 150 million in humanitarian assistance for the UN Relief Works Agency, or UNRWA. All assistance, of course, will be provided consistent with U.S. law.

Assistance includes, among other things, support for small and medium enterprises’ recovery from the effects of COVID-19; support for needy households to access basic human needs, including food and clean water; and support for Palestinian civil society. A portion of this funding will support the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, as it continues to provide the necessary and life-saving treatments to Palestinians. This funding is in addition to the $15 million in humanitarian assistance to address COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity that we announced last month.

U.S. foreign assistance for the Palestinians serves important U.S. interests and values, including providing critical relief to those in need, fostering economic development, and supporting Israeli-Palestinian understanding, as well as security and stability in a volatile region.  It aligns with the values and the interests of the United States as well as those of our allies and partners.  The United States is committed to advancing prosperity, security, and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians in tangible ways in the immediate term, which is important in its own right, of course, but also as a means to advance towards a negotiated two-state solution.

The United States encourages other donors to support programs and activities that work toward a common goal of stability and progress for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

QUESTION: So I got two things, both on the Middle East, including – well, one on that. When you say that all this aid is going to be provided in – well, consistent with U.S. law, I’m curious as to how actually you’re going to do that.

MR PRICE: Sure.

QUESTION: Because U.S. law – there’s several of them – says that the U.S. cannot provide money to the Palestinian Authority, or – perhaps more importantly – money that would be fungible, that would be used for projects and programs that they – that a government would otherwise do as long as they continue to pay stipends to people convicted of anti-Israel or anti-U.S. attacks and their families. So how exactly are you going to square this?

MR PRICE: Sure.

QUESTION: Because as you’re aware, since reports about this have come out for a week or so, there have been growing opposition in Congress.

MR PRICE: Well, let me just start there. And I don’t want to characterize the reactions of individual members, but I think it is fair to say that we have been gratified by the reaction that we have heard from Congress on a bipartisan basis. Members of Congress, just as we do, recognize that the aid we announced today is consistent with our interests, it is consistent with our values, it is consistent with the interests of those in the region, to include Palestinians not only in the West Bank and Gaza but also in the broader region as well, as well as the interests of our Israeli partners.

Now, you asked about how we ensure that this aid is consistent with applicable U.S. law, including the Taylor Force Act. I just want to underscore that —

QUESTION: And ATCA.

MR PRICE: I’m sorry?

QUESTION: And —

MR PRICE: And ATCA. And I just want to underscore that all of this aid is absolutely consistent with relevant U.S. law, including those two statutes. As we do around the world, we provide assistance in the West Bank and Gaza through experienced and trusted independent partners on the ground, and it’s these partners who distribute directly to people in need, not through government or de facto government authorities. Our development partners in the West Bank and Gaza have aggressive risk mitigation systems in place aimed at ensuring just that – namely, that U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance is reaching those for whom it is intended: the women, the men, the children in need of lifesaving assistance.

Now, you asked about this fairly technical issue as to how we ensure that this aid is consistent with the Taylor Force Act —

QUESTION: Well —

MR PRICE: — and that it doesn’t directly —

QUESTION: Okay, fine, but I would not say that that’s “fairly technical.”

MR PRICE: No, no, no – well, I’m getting to a technical point.

QUESTION: You’re either breaking the law or you’re following the law. That’s not a technical —

MR PRICE: Well, it is – you’re right, it is very clear. We are following the law. Everything we are doing here is quite consistent with it, scrupulously so. But you did ask about how we ensure this doesn’t benefit —

QUESTION: Yes.

MR PRICE: Directly benefit the Palestinian Authority, which is the relevant provision, and assistance considered as quote-unquote “directly benefiting” the PA is actually defined in the Department of State – defined by the Department of State and was transmitted to Congress in May of 2018. And in making this determination, we take several conditions into account, including the intended primary beneficiary or end user of the assistance; whether the PA is the direct recipient of the assistance, of course; whether the assistance involves payments of Palestinian Authority creditors; the extent of ownership or control the PA exerts over an entity or an individual that is the primary beneficiary or end user of the assistance; and whether the assistance or, in some cases, the services provided directly replace assistance or services that the PA would otherwise provide.

So we take all of that scrupulously into account – not only Taylor Force, not only ATCA, every relevant statute – to ensure, again, that what we are doing is in service of our interests, our values, consistent with U.S. law, and betters the lives of the people in the region.

QUESTION: Okay. As it relates to the UNRWA assistance, the 150 million to UNRWA, the Israelis have already come out and said that they’re concerned about this, that they don’t think it’s a good idea because the – because UNRWA, they think, is – well, one, that it’s non-transparent and that it promotes anti-Israel activity; and then secondly, the previous secretary of state just before he left office really laid a – quite a harsh allegation against UNRWA, saying that there’re fewer than 200,000 refugees that it actually serves from 1948. So one, do you – or, well, one, when you say you take into consideration Congressional concerns, are you also taking into account Israeli concerns? And then secondly, are you repudiating former Secretary of State Pompeo’s criticism of UNRWA that it’s riddled with corruption and is not serving anywhere near the number of quote-unquote “real” refugees?

MR PRICE: Well, you asked about UNRWA. Let me just say one more word on the bilateral assistance we’re providing to the Palestinian people because it gets to your question about security, and that is, of course, that we have an enduring commitment to Israel’s security. It is a cornerstone of U.S. policy in the Middle East but also, beyond that, globally. Likewise, we are committed to advancing the safety and the security of the Palestinian people. As we said in a statement earlier this week, we believe that Israelis and Palestinians should enjoy equal measures of security, prosperity, and dignity.

Now, when it comes to U.S. security assistance, that has played a key role in strengthening Palestinian Authority security forces capable of or, in some cases, willing to partner with Israel to address regional instability. We expect that a key part of our security assistance going forward will be working to advance the rule of law in the West Bank for the benefit of all through the development of professional and accountable security and criminal justice institutions, institutions that, by the way, are able to maintain security and stability in the West Bank to uphold the rule of law, to contribute directly to regional security, and to protect the population. That is not only in the interests of the Palestinian people. That, of course, is in the interests of our Israeli partners.

And as you know or as you might have guessed, we have engaged at multiple levels repeatedly with our Israeli partners on these questions. Of course, it was noted in the recent readout of the call between Secretary Blinken and his counterpart, Foreign Minister Ashkenazi. I wouldn’t want to characterize any further those diplomatic conversations, but we do all of this, again, consistent with the interests and the values of this country.

QUESTION: You don’t have to characterize it because the Israelis have already come out and said they think it’s a bad idea. So – or so the reservations that Congress has about this and the opposition that Israel has about this doesn’t matter; is that what you’re saying?

MR PRICE: Matt, we are doing this consistent with the values and the interests of the United States and also with the interests of those in the region as well. You did ask about UNRWA —

QUESTION: Yes. Yes.

MR PRICE: — and concerns there, so let me just take a moment to note how seriously we take oversight of – our oversight role of UNRWA when it comes to UNRWA’s policies, programs, and finances. We take them extraordinary seriously. Got a long answer here.

QUESTION: You don’t really have to go on – you don’t have to drone on forever about it. But just, like, you are repudiating what the former administration thought about UNRWA? Do you still – do you believe, as the previous secretary of state did, that UNRWA serves a very, very small number of Palestinian refugees as opposed to what they claim to serve?

MR PRICE: I’m not going to characterize what the previous administration might have said or might have concluded. I am relaying here what this institution, what this secretary of state, what this administration, and what this building thinks and has concluded. And that is, again, that is that these steps and measures that we’ve announced today are consistent with our interests and our values.

I think the other point I would make is that even when the United States had stopped its support for UNRWA, the United States, and in this case the previous administration, did maintain a dialogue even in the absence of funding with UNRWA. By resuming this assistance today, not only do we have that dialogue, but we have a seat at the table. We can help drive UNRWA in the ways that we think it is in our interest and consistent with our values to do. Obviously, there are areas where we would like to see reform. We will continue to be in a position, an even greater position to drive and to steer UNRWA in a direction that we think is productive and useful with this step today.

Humeyra.

QUESTION: Can I actually get you to elaborate on that? So you do think that UNRWA needs to be reformed. Can you identify in which areas? And also, by restoring this aid today, are you guys working towards restoring to the amount of $365 million, which was in 2017? Is that what you’re aiming for, and what’s the path to that look like? But don’t forget the first one I asked.

MR PRICE: Well, let me start with the first one. It is absolutely the case that we are committed to closely engaging with UNRWA to uphold its neutrality, to promote human rights and tolerance and education, and to improve the agency’s effectiveness and sustainability, and we plan to do that in a few different ways. One, we plan to do that bilaterally with the agency, with UNRWA, to improve its transparency, accountability, and internal governance and oversight processes. And two, multilaterally to improve its sustainability over time.

The point I made before is absolutely a critical one. Even in the absence of the funding that the previous administration halted, we – in this case the previous administration maintained a dialogue with UNRWA. Now not only do we have a dialogue, but we have a seat at the table. We are able to help effect these reforms – these reforms that we think are necessary, these reforms that we think are important – in a manner that is much more – that will be much more effective going forward.

Yes.

QUESTION: Thank you, Ned. I have two questions on the Palestinians and one on Iraq. On the Palestinian issue, so would you say that any part of this money will go to support election in East Jerusalem since you value the democratic process? Number one. And number two, would you say that this money is trying to address a severe humanitarian need or also double as a carrot for the Palestinian Authority to come back to the negotiation table?

MR PRICE: This is – these are humanitarian steps when it comes to the humanitarian aid that we have announced today. The Secretary was speaking in a completely different context earlier this week when he said that we don’t trade shots in arms for political favors. But I think the broader principle is one that stands. This is consistent with who we are as a people. It also happens to be consistent with what is in our interest. And when we talk about the humanitarian funding that we are – I would – that we have announced today, it is to alleviate the – in many cases the humanitarian suffering that Palestinians have endured, whether it is in the West Bank, whether it’s in Gaza, or whether it’s in the broader region.

Now, when it comes to the question of elections, again, I would make the point that everything we are doing is going to be consistent with ATCA, it’s going to be consistent with the Taylor Force Act, and as we do around the world, we are providing this assistance through experienced and trusted independent partners on the ground who in turn distribute that aid. Palestinian elections are a matter for the Palestinian people. I think I would leave it at that in terms of our announcement today.

Yes.

QUESTION: Yes, I was just wondering if the Secretary or any official in this building has made sort of calls with the Palestinian officials ahead of today’s announcement. If not, when would they do that? And another question: Is there any update about the pledges to reopen the diplomatic – the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C.?

MR PRICE: Well, I would reiterate the point I have said before that we believe it is important for us to have a partnership with the Palestinian people and with Palestinian officials. I don’t have any calls to read out – I would imagine if Secretary Blinken had a call with his Palestinian counterpart, we would be in a position to read that out – nor do I have any calls to preview, but it is true that we have engaged extensively with stakeholders, including officials in the region, but I don’t have any details of that to read out.

Now, when it comes to the ways in which we will engage with the Palestinian people and Palestinian authorities, obviously today’s announcement, the announcement of funding on a bilateral basis for the Palestinian people and through UNRWA is an important element of that, but it is not the only way in which we intend to do that. But I just don’t have any announcements to preview at this time.

QUESTION: I don’t think you answered my first question.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) 365. Is that the aim that you’re going to eventually increase this? Is that where you’re going?

MR PRICE: I’m not going to – I’m – today we’re talking about a significant, a sizable, an ambitious announcement of funding. I don’t have anything to preview beyond today.

QUESTION: Did you have any comment that —

QUESTION: (Inaudible) this is the first tranche, because I know that the administrations have usually provided their UNRWA funding in trenches – tranches, whatever – leading up to the full amount. So you haven’t made a decision about whether you’re going to go back to that historic amount of (inaudible)?

MR PRICE: I just don’t have anything to preview today. We are in April of 2021. Of course there are many months left in this fiscal year. But I just don’t have anything to preview today as to where we are heading.

QUESTION: But then I turn to the security assistance. That’s – is that like the 60 million extra that’s not part of the number that you put into this press release?

MR PRICE: We – I’m sorry.

QUESTION: The security assistance.

MR PRICE: Yes.

QUESTION: You said we’re also resuming vital security assistance programs. So that’s separate from the numbers that you have in this press release, right?

MR PRICE: We can – we can – if we have more details on exactly what that security assistance looked like – looks like in terms of numbers, we can let you know.

QUESTION: Did you guys ever have a response to the GAO report that found that USAID had not followed all of the – all of the requirements of the Taylor Force and ATCA laws in awarding not direct grantees but sub-grantees?

MR PRICE: Well, we are of course aware of the GAO report. We have welcomed the report. We take it, its findings, very seriously. It’s important to note that this GAO report found no cases of U.S. funding going to parties, providers on the ground who failed vetting. USAID is already taking steps to strengthen its existing, extensive antiterrorism procedures. I would also say that the funding we have announced today takes into account that report and our implementation of that funding has and will take into account what the GAO put forward. Again, the bottom line here is that this administration is firmly committing to – committed to ensuring that all U.S. assistance is provided in accordance with antiterrorism requirements and all U.S. laws, including the Taylor Force Act.

^

USAID for West Bank/Gaza

Overview

The United States is the leading provider of bilateral economic and development assistance to the Palestinians, having provided more than $2.9 billion since 1994 for programs in the areas of water and sanitation, infrastructure, education, health care, economic growth, and democracy. The United States is also committed to continuing assistance for basic human needs in both the West Bank and Gaza, including emergency food, health care, and access to safe water and sanitation systems. In Gaza, USAID works closely with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and local and international nongovernmental organizations.

Programs

Economic Growth
The USAID economic growth program promotes business and agricultural development and job creation through technical assistance and grants to the private sector. USAID supports Palestinian efforts to increase exports, enable investment and lending, generate employment, and improve quality standards. The U.S. Government is also easing the movement of Palestinian people and goods, while improving Israel’s security.

Infrastructure
Road, water, and school construction projects all contribute to improvements in the infrastructure sector. In 2010, USAID plans to construct more than 120 kilometers of main arterial and secondary road segments throughout the West Bank. In the water sector, USAID supports not only rapid response and emergency relief capabilities, but also fundamental infrastructure improvements, including expanding access to safe drinking water and sanitation in rural areas, reducing losses from aging water systems, constructing or expanding pipelines and reservoirs to improve water distribution, developing new water resources, and procuring water commodities and construction and engineering management services.

Humanitarian Assistance
To respond to emergencies and reduce poverty, the United States provides emergency food, health care, and access to safe water and sanitation to the people in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. Government also contributes to the WFP and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s West Bank and Gaza Emergency Appeal. In 2009, USAID responded to the humanitarian crisis and provided food and nonfood humanitarian assistance in Gaza. In addition, through a grant to the WFP, USAID is providing food assistance to vulnerable non-refugee families in the West Bank and Gaza.

Investing in People
USAID works to improve the ability of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health and local health care organizations to meet the public health needs of Palestinian families. Of particular concern is the health of the most vulnerable Palestinians, including women of reproductive age and children under five. In 2010, USAID is renovating four major hospitals in the West Bank.

USAID supports early childhood and basic education to help prepare Palestinian children for a more productive future. This year, USAID will focus on educational quality improvements in 40 public and 17 private schools. Complementary higher education and vocational programs improve the quality of teaching and learning and emphasize critical thinking. Since 2009, USAID has constructed or renovated 153 classrooms and constructed 10 new public schools to address the need for classroom space to support the rapidly growing population. USAID’s education assistance benefits approximately 23,000 Palestinians.

Peace and Security
With its border improvement projects, the United States is helping ease the movement of Palestinian people and goods, while improving Israel’s security. USAID is also assisting the Palestinian Monetary Authority and the Palestinian Capital Markets Authority in tracking financial transactions to prevent financial crimes and money laundering.

Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID programs promote respect for human rights, enforcement of the rule of law, and improvement in the Palestinian Authority’s ability to provide for the needs of the public. USAID works with 12 Palestinian Authority ministries and institutions to carry out democratic reforms and make improvements in key areas of service delivery. USAID programs also assist civil society organizations and the media in holding government accountable and in building a constituency for reform. Finally, USAID provides assistance to the Central Elections Commission to help prepare for future elections.

EXAMPLES OF OUR IMPACT

USAID programs have provided potable water to 1.7 million beneficiaries (69 percent of the population) in the West Bank.

In 2009, USAID distributed more than $24 million worth of humanitarian assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the military operations in Gaza.

USAID has trained more than one-third of the Central Elections Commission staff in preparation for future Palestinian elections.


CONTACTS

Mission Director
Michael Harvey
USAID
9700 Tel Aviv Place
Washington, DC 20521-9700
Tel: 972-3-511-4848
Fax: 972-3-511-4888

Desk Officer
Sara Borodin
Tel: (202) 712-4836
Email: sborodin@usaid.gov

Hizmeh - Qalandiya

While we Jews have our problems at the Hizmeh crossing point, seems the Pals. have found a friend to help out with their problems.

Jan McGirk, USINFO Special Correspondent, reports:-

The main highway connecting Ramallah to Jerusalem has been sadly neglected for years. The road has changed little since the days of the British Mandate for Palestine (1920-1948), and no major repairs have been undertaken to this narrow and badly potholed highway since Jordan resurfaced it before the 1967 war.

For 40 years, no government agency would take charge and repave the derelict highway because of its sensitive location. Just 14.4 kilometers from Jerusalem, this road runs past an Israeli military checkpoint with 7.5-meter concrete walls and beside the teeming Qalandiya refugee camp before continuing toward the seat of the Palestinian Authority government. For security reasons, the Israelis refused construction permits, and they were unwilling to finance the repairs themselves.

But in summer 2007, after nearly $2.5 million was allocated to the project, the bulldozers got started and the earth moved.

Two narrow lanes are being widened to four, with extra parking strips beside commercial zones to minimize obstructions. Drainage pipes and gutters are being installed. Before the winter rains bring mud and misery, this 1.6-kilometer stretch of road is scheduled to be upgraded completely and resurfaced. It will link up seamlessly with road projects paid for by German and Malaysian funds, resulting in an unprecedented smooth ride.

When workers contracted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) started ripping up this dreaded bottleneck, most commuters appeared thrilled, even though construction work snarled the traffic even further and the delays frayed drivers’ tempers.

“It must be one of the worst roads in the Middle East,” said Haithan Hamad, who commutes daily from Bethlehem, just 22 kilometers away -- if there are no detours. “It took me nearly five hours to get home during Ramadan,” he complained. “These repairs are long overdue, believe me.”

A $2.5 million project is widening and repaving the Qalandiya Road, which carries thousands of cars daily. (Photo by Jan McGirk)“Well, I see the Americans have come to our rescue,” said Jamila Salem, a mother of twins waiting at a bus stop on the route. Car owners like her often prefer to take the bus or even a taxi to protect their private vehicles from being damaged by the rutted roadway.

Hmmm. Are you thinking what am I thinking?

More on US Assistance to the Pals.

The U.S. State Department reports:-

When more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced following the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli War, the United States was among the first countries to help feed and shelter them...Today, “the United States continues to work closely with the Israelis and Palestinians to realize President Bush’s vision of two states living side by side in peace and security,” Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, told USINFO.

...the United States has been the single largest aid contributor to the 4.3 million Palestinians. Palestinians are the largest per capita recipients of foreign aid worldwide from all sources...

...The United States has provided more than $3 billion in UNRWA donations from 1950 through 2007, and contributed millions more responding to emergency funding appeals over the years. It is also the single largest contributor to the U.N. World Food Programme, providing millions of tons of food assistance for distribution by private nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to thousands of Palestinians living in communities other than those served by UNRWA.

...additional bilateral economic assistance -- an average of $85 million per year -- is delivered from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through private companies and NGOs working in region.

...Since May 2006, USAID has worked with Palestinian officials to deliver more than $3.9 million in emergency medical assistance, including essential medicines, generators and other needed goods, to Palestinian NGO-run clinics and hospitals.

Hanan, a USAID-sponsored project that focuses on health care for Palestinian mothers and children, has trained 845 health care providers and equipped four specialized maternity hospitals. USAID’s Emergency Water and Sanitation program has prevented disease by bringing clean, reliable water supplies into 15,000 Palestinian homes and sewage systems to 8,000 others though programs such as the Bani Naim water supply system in the southern West Bank.

...Since 2006, some 10,000 Palestinian agribusinesses, farmers and fishermen have received assistance and training through USAID’s Palestinian Agribusiness Partnership Activity, while the Palestinian Enterprise Development project has formed partnerships with six Palestinian companies to increase export, promote investment and generate new jobs.

Spreading the Money Around

But who is watching it?

Microloans Help Businesses Expand in Palestinian Territories

Washington -- Receiving a series of small loans, a woman living in Beit Jalla on the West Bank was able to expand her sewing business from a sole-person, home-based operation into a thriving venture employing up to 10 seamstresses and bringing more income to her family.

The borrower’s loans were among the 72,000 made by local lender FATEN (Palestine for Credit and Development) with a total value of approximately $43 million. FATEN has disbursed microfinance loans to entrepreneurs, mostly women, in the West Bank and Gaza since 1995. FATEN is now independent, thanks to a $15 million investment from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and nurturing by the international nonprofit group Save the Children.

USAID's current efforts to support the economic development of the Palestinian Territories are focused on a microcredit organization known as SMART (Small and Microfinance Activity for Recovery and Transition).

...U.S. economic assistance to West Bank and Gaza has come in other forms.

A $228 million Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) loan fund launched in July is a collaboration among the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Aspen Institute and the Palestine Investment Fund.

The initiative aims to provide low-cost loans to small and medium-sized businesses that otherwise might not have access to investment capital. The funding from the Aspen Institute is raised from donors in the United States, Europe and Arab countries. The Norwegian government contributes $5 million for the fund’s operating costs.

...In fiscal year 2007, USAID invested $50 million in Gaza and the West Bank. The Bush administration has requested an increase to $77 million for the next fiscal year, Sumka said.

I caught this ad in today's JPost:-




And here are my questions,

a) Does USAID have a parallel program for Jewish residents of the "West Bank"?

b) If so, what? where? when? who?

c) If not, why?

d) If not, is this discrimination based on race and religion by not extending financial aid to residents of the geographical entity (note: the aid goes to the WB/G not to the Palestine Authority).

e) If not, are any elected officials, senators or congressmen or their aides, reviewing this ad to ascertain if my assumption, that it is discriminatory (I am pretty sure that non-citizens in American states (like California and Texas, for example) are being aided by US government funds. Why not Jews living in Shiloh, Ofrah, Efrat, etc.?

f) If I am an American citizen, can I then qualify?

g) Could someone like Shlomo Fischer, Director, Yesodot - The Center for Torah and Democracy in Jerusalem, apply? (Yesodot has received US monies in the past and money from Keren Abraham and other funders). Or does the job really mean "Arab"? Or "Arab Muslim"?

h) What type of "knowledge" of the Arab-Israel conflict is needed? Why not ignore the conflict and just deal with democracy - civil rights, accountability, transparancy of government activity, freedom of the press, human liberties, no terror (oops, sorry about that. it just creeped in and I can't figure out how), etc.

i) Is this a CIA plan to overthrow the PA? (just kidding. they don't do those things anymore, do they?)

j) Wouldn't it be democratic to recognize the right of Jews to live in their historic homeland and figure out how that could be accomplished without anybody resorting to violence?

k) And why Tel Aviv? Jerusalem takes care of Judea & Samaria (aka WB) where as TA deals with Gaza (well, they still have a score to settle, no?).

I could go on, but it's Friday and I have other things to do and write about.