USAID stops assistance in West Bank, Gaza

NEWS DESK

A US official said, "USAID has suspended all aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip."

The official added, "At the request of the Palestinian Authority, we have completed certain projects and programs that were being funded through aid under the terms of the anti-terrorism law in the West Bank and Gaza.

He noted, "all USAID assistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has stopped." adding that they were not taking steps to close the agency mission.

The suspension of US assistance includes stopping aid to 10 civil organizations that are pushing for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, Saeb Eriqat, said Thursday that US aid to the Palestinian security services would be suspended starting on Friday at the request of the Palestinian leadership and to avoid lawsuits in support of terrorism.

Eriqat pointed out that the head of the administration of government, Rami al-Hamdallah, sent a letter to the US State Department requesting the end of funding in late January for fear of being sued under a new law passed by Congress last year to combat terrorism.

Eriqat added that the new US law stipulates that any government that receives US funding will be subject to US counterterrorism laws, noting that the Americans have made their decision "but we will continue to participate in the fight against terrorism in the region."

A.H

ANHA