US to cut UNRWA funding if Palestinians don't return to negotiations

"We are trying to promote the peace process, but if that will not happen, the president will not continue to fund it," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JANUARY 2, 2018 22:33

Updated: JANUARY 3, 2018 00:55

US Ambassador Nikki Haley vetoes the Egyptian-drafted resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the UN Security Council meeting on December 18 (photo credit: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS) — US Ambassador Nikki Haley vetoes the Egyptian-drafted resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the UN Security Council meeting on December 18

(photo credit: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley threatened Tuesday to cut funding to UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency) until the Palestinians return to the negotiating table.

The president "doesn't want to give additional funding or stop funding until the Palestinians agreeing to come back to the negotiating table," she said. "We're trying to move for a peace process. But if that doesn't happen, the president's not going to continue to fund that situation."

Trump then took to Twitter to echo Haley's statement, saying that the US gives the Palestinians "HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect."

It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

After declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month, and his intent to move the US embassy in Israel there from Tel Aviv, Trump warned foreign nations against condemning the new US policy through a vote in the UN General Assembly. A vote proceeded anyway, with a majority voting against it, which prompted Trump to threaten the international body with a massive aid cut.

As of last year, 22% of the UN's annual budget comes from US aid.

UNRWA works in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.