SavedByGrace1981 Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 104 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,923 Content Per Day: 0.61 Reputation: 462 Days Won: 2 Joined: 04/02/2011 Status: Offline Birthday: 03/22/1953 Share Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) The State Department is reviewing a last-minute decision by former Secretary of State John Kerry to send $221 million dollars to the Palestinians late last week over the objections of congressional Republicans. The department said Tuesday it would look at the payment, one of the Obama administration's final acts in office, and might make adjustments to ensure it comports with the Trump administration's priorities. Kerry formally notified Congress that State would release the money Friday morning, just hours before President Donald Trump's inauguration. "I was tracking President Obama's 11th-hour moves on the Palestinians, and this issue never came up once ... Most analysts and observers didn't think Obama would or could do this," Dr. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told Business Insider. Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, with the US Agency for International Development sending the Palestinians $355 million in 2015. But at least two GOP lawmakers Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee had placed holds on the funds as the Palestinian Authority had pursued "a unilateral tract towards statehood and they were not trying to work with Israel," said Schanzer. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated. "Most analysts and observers didn’t think Obama would or could do this," said Schanzer. "The easiest way to sum it up is that Congress had been looking at various behaviors from Palestine — unilateral attempts at statehood, corruption, incitement of violence, and paying salaries to people in jail for terrorism — and that's why the hold has been there," said Schanzer. Granger released a statement Tuesday saying, "I am deeply disappointed that President Obama defied congressional oversight and released $221 million to the Palestinian territories." She added: "I worked to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars would fund the Palestinian Authority unless very strict conditions were met. While none of these funds will go to the Palestinian Authority because of those conditions, they will go to programs in the Palestinian territories that were still under review by Congress. The Obama Administration's decision to release these funds was inappropriate." The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money, which comes from the US Agency for International Development and is to be used to fund humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms and to help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress. Obama's unilateral attempt to send the money came as he closed his presidency with a critical eye toward Israel. In December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that Israel stop building settlements on Palestinian land. The US refused to vote on the resolution, effectively allowing it to pass. Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, which Abbas has urged against. http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-frozen-obamas-payment-to-palestine-2017-1 Edited January 26, 2017 by SavedByGrace1981 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonsister Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Removed from Forums for Breaking Terms of Service Followers: 0 Topic Count: 20 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 647 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 283 Days Won: 1 Joined: 12/31/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 Good move on Trump's part. What else will we find Obama did in his 11th hour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.11 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 I guess Obama wanted to get in one more elbow to the face of Israel. Enjoy retirement, Mr. Obama, and good riddance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonsister Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Removed from Forums for Breaking Terms of Service Followers: 0 Topic Count: 20 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 647 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 283 Days Won: 1 Joined: 12/31/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 Obama was an enemy of America and of Israel. That's quite a legacy for an American president to have carved out for himself. Can't wait for his first book after retirement. Wonder the title? "My secret Jihad from inside the oval" "Allah's secret soldier. One man's mission against the Kafir" Just a couple suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.11 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 10 minutes ago, soonsister said: Obama was an enemy of America and of Israel. That's quite a legacy for an American president to have carved out for himself. Can't wait for his first book after retirement. Wonder the title? "My secret Jihad from inside the oval" "Allah's secret soldier. One man's mission against the Kafir" Just a couple suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,991 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,689 Content Per Day: 11.81 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 I hope Trump gives more support to Israel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.11 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 13 hours ago, missmuffet said: I hope Trump gives more support to Israel. So far he is letting the world know that he is putting his administration behind Israel. I am very happy to see this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,991 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,689 Content Per Day: 11.81 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 Just now, MorningGlory said: So far he is letting the world know that he is putting his administration behind Israel. I am very happy to see this. Yes, what a nice change from Obama. He did not like Israel at all and he made it very obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonsister Posted January 26, 2017 Group: Removed from Forums for Breaking Terms of Service Followers: 0 Topic Count: 20 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 647 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 283 Days Won: 1 Joined: 12/31/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted January 26, 2017 Fair to say Obama wasn't a favorite of Netanyahu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavey.online Posted January 27, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 4 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 158 Content Per Day: 0.05 Reputation: 77 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/23/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 06/01/1977 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Clarification is in Need about this news >>>>>>The much-discussed $221 million transfer to Palestine authorized by Barack Obama just hours before Trump was sworn into the presidency has already reached West Bank and Gaza, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has claimed."We have already received the last sum assigned by Obama's administration. They have transferred this money," Husam Zomlot, strategic affairs advisor to the Palestine president, told RIA Novosti in an interview on Thursday. https://www.rt.com/news/375217-palestine-received-us-payout/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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