Biden urges Israel to transfer tax revenue to Palestinian Authority.
Israel Faces Existential Battle as Biden Administration Urges Funding for Palestinian Authority
As Israel engages in a ground war against Hamas in Gaza and confronts Iran-backed groups threatening its very existence, the Biden administration is urging Israel to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently appealed for the release of funds to bolster the Palestinian Authority’s governance of the West Bank, according to Axios.
“We asked them to release [the money],” Blinken stated.
“The Palestinian Authority is working tirelessly to maintain security and stability in the West Bank. However, it is severely underfunded. This is another aspect of the problem,” he added.
An unnamed U.S. official emphasized that Israel cannot afford to let the Palestinian Authority disintegrate.
“We conveyed to them that such a move would undermine the Palestinian Authority and destabilize the West Bank, which goes against Israeli interests. We cannot allow everything to collapse,” the official said.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his decision to halt the monthly payments, totaling around $150 million.
“I would like to inform you that I have instructed the Finance Ministry to stop the transfer of payments this month,” Smotrich wrote, as reported by the Times of Israel.
He took this action due to “senior PA officials’ support for the horrific massacres of the Nazi terrorist organization Hamas.”
“The PA has once again demonstrated its support for terrorism, which we have been condemning for years. These funds are being used against the State of Israel and its citizens. It is inconceivable to continue transferring these funds as if nothing has happened,” Smotrich explained.
Smotrich also provided a list of Palestinian Authority statements endorsing Hamas, including an official Palestine TV broadcast on the day of the Hamas attack, which proclaimed, ”Today Gaza struck a blow the occupation won’t forget… today we woke up united.”
Meanwhile, President Biden’s support for the Palestinian Authority comes at a time when a recent poll reveals that only 17 percent of Arab American voters plan to support Biden in the upcoming year, a significant drop from the 59 percent support he received in 2020, according to the Arab American Institute.
“This is the most dramatic shift over the shortest period of time that I’ve ever seen,” remarked James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, as reported by Time.
The poll, conducted among 500 Arab-Americans between October 23 and October 27, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, according to the Institute.
The survey also revealed that 66 percent of respondents hold a negative view of Biden’s response to the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians.
Additionally, 68 percent of those polled believe the U.S. should refrain from sending weapons to Israel, while a majority believe the U.S. should leverage its influence to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
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The post Biden Administration Pressures Israel to Give Tax Revenue to Palestinian Authority appeared first on The Western Journal.
What evidence does Israel’s Finance Minister cite to support the decision to halt monthly payments to the Palestinian Authority due to its support for terrorism?
Negative view of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while 64 percent expressed a negative view of Israel’s actions during the recent conflict in Gaza.
With Israel facing an existential battle against Hamas and Iran-backed groups, the Biden administration’s call for funding the Palestinian Authority raises questions about its priorities in the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s request for the release of funds to the Palestinian Authority indicates a belief that supporting the Palestinian Authority is crucial for maintaining security and stability in the West Bank.
An unnamed U.S. official emphasized the importance of not allowing the Palestinian Authority to disintegrate, as it would destabilize the West Bank and go against Israeli interests. This suggests that the Biden administration views the Palestinian Authority as an important counterbalance to Hamas and an ally in maintaining peace.
However, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has decided to halt the monthly payments to the Palestinian Authority, citing senior PA officials’ support for Hamas and terrorism. Smotrich argues that continuing to transfer funds to the Palestinian Authority while it supports terrorism is inconceivable and goes against Israeli interests.
The Finance Minister provided evidence of Palestinian Authority statements endorsing Hamas, including a Palestine TV broadcast on the day of the Hamas attack, celebrating the blow struck against the occupation. These statements further support Smotrich’s decision to freeze the funds and reinforce the argument that continuing financial support is inappropriate given the Palestinian Authority’s open support for terrorism.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s support for the Palestinian Authority comes at a time when Arab American voters show a significant drop in support for him. According to a recent poll by the Arab American Institute, only 17 percent of Arab American voters plan to support Biden in the upcoming year, compared to the 59 percent support he received in 2020. This dramatic shift reflects a growing dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among Arab American voters.
The poll also reveals negative views of both the Biden administration and Israel’s actions during the recent conflict in Gaza among Arab American respondents. This suggests that the support for the Palestinian Authority may not be sufficient to win over Arab American voters, as their concerns about the handling of the conflict extend beyond financial support for the Palestinian Authority.
In conclusion, Israel’s ongoing battle against Hamas and Iran-backed groups has prompted the Biden administration to call for financial support for the Palestinian Authority. However, Israel’s Finance Minister has decided to freeze the funds due to the Palestinian Authority’s support for terrorism. Meanwhile, support for the Biden administration among Arab American voters has dropped significantly. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a complex and contentious issue, with no easy solutions in sight.
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