1-16-2018 U.S. Withholds $65 Million From U.N. Relief Agency for Palestinians - GARDINER HARRIS and RICK GLADSTONE New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/us/politics/us-palestinian-aid-refugee-un.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

The Trump administration is withholding more than half the funding that the United States generally has provided to a United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees, officials said Tuesday.  Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman, said the United States would provide $60 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency but would withhold $65 million "for future consideration."Ms. Nauert said that the decision was intended to encourage other countries to increase aid, as well as to promote reform at the relief agency — and that it was not intended to be a punitive move against Palestinians. But she refused to comment when asked if the funding shortfall was linked to President Trump's threat on Jan. 2 to end the aid after Palestinian leaders said the United States should no longer play a role in peace talks with Israel…

Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

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