Congress freezes $200 in aid to PA

From Ynet:

United States Congress has blocked nearly $200 million in aid for the Palestinian Authority, threatening projects such as food aid, health care, and support for efforts to build a state, The Independent reported Saturday.

The decision to freeze the funds runs counter to the wishes of the Obama administration and reflects Congressional anger at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who defied US wishes by taking his UN membership bid to the Security Council.

According to the British newspaper, the freezing of the funds, which were to have been provided in the US fiscal year that ends Saturday, is the most tangible sign yet of the seriousness of Congressional leaders' threats of an even wider halt to funding in the coming year if Abbas continues with his actions at the UN.

Republicans at Congress recently demanded to withhold up to $600 million from the Palestinians – the average amount given by the US every year since 2008 – in the next financial year over the PA bid. The US has already announced it will veto any Security Council resolution recognizing an independent Palestinian state.

It's good that they're keeping their word on this matter, and showing the PA that they can't just bypass negotiations and humiliate America at the UNSC without paying their price.  The Palestinians receive the second-to-most aid in the world - the first being Sudan.  They receive tons more aid per capita than any country in the world, as seen in this report.  This is a serious threat to the PA, as it could cause the collapse of the PA, and hopefully, this will convince the PA to return to the negotiating table without any pre-conditions - everything's out on the table to negotiate about.

And they really need the money, you know, for their luxurious water parks that Hamas burns down (somehow, I imagine that's Israel's fault?).  And for their grand hotels.  And for the Gazan landscape and buildings. And because Israel's generous offer of 1,200 truckloads of goods and aid and gas to Gaza every week isn't enough (and yes, that's very generous considering the U.N. Palmer Report upholds their blockade as legal, since Hamas has launched 12,000 rockets at Israel and wants Israel destroyed and carries out terrorist attacks against Israel). 

But hey, the poverty that you will find in Gaza and Judea & Samaria (the West Bank) - just remember, that's Israel's fault, for their cruel, legal blockade, and for the dozens of checkpoints Netanyahu removed, and the vast "wall" (96% fence, 4% wall, but hey, the media would never tell you that, click the link for more info) that Israel created.  Surely, the Palestinians didn't inflict it on themselves, you know, by rejecting peace offers in 2000 and launching the Second Intifada and scores and scores of violence...

U.N. To Do List:
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - DONE
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - DONE
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - DONE
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - TO DO
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - TO DO
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - TO DO
Condemn Israel for defending their citizens - TO DO