US Congressional Committee threatens to end PA aid

House Committee on Foreign Affairs will cease aid to PA if it refuses to drop UN statehood bid and to return to negotiation table.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
eliot engel 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
eliot engel 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
United States Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York, passed two bills through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Friday which make US aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) conditional on the cessation of its UN statehood bid and a return to peace talks with Israel, the congressman's office announced in a statement.
RELATED:Poll: Palestinians seek normalcy over statehoodPoll: 52% think Intifada will follow statehood declaration
"If the Palestinians proceed with their Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) or seek recognition at the United States, the US should cut assistance to the PA. My amendment will do just that," Engel said.
He continued, "One of the main reasons the Oslo peace process failed is because the Palestinians refused to prepare their people for peace. My amendment, the Preparing the Palestinian People for Peace Act, says that we shouldn't help the PA unless it ends incitement and starts preparing the people for peace."
Engel's statements come after a poll released Thursday showed that most Palestinians would prefer normalcy over statehood.
According to the people, Palestinians want their leaders to focus on creating jobs and expanding healthcare, rather than the declaration of statehood.
While 64% of the participants in the poll support seeking UN recognition of a Palestinian state, only 4% listed it as a top priority. Only 1% said promoting mass protests against Israel was of great importance.