PLO official: We will not be intimidated

Arutz Sheva ^ | 25/8/18 | Elad Benari

[Eleutheria5]

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi blasted the United States on Friday, after the State Department announced it would cut $200 million in bilateral assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

"The U.S. administration is demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool. The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion. The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale,” she said in a statement.

“There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation. The U.S. administration has already demonstrated meanness of spirit in its collusion with the Israeli occupation and its theft of land and resources; now it is exercising economic meanness by punishing the Palestinian victims of this occupation," added Ashrawi.

The State Department notified Congress earlier on Friday that it would redirect more than $200 million in U.S. to assistance to the PA to "high-priority projects elsewhere."

The White House announced earlier this year that it had decided to re-examine the aid provided by the United States to the PA, in light of the ongoing disconnect between the sides since the decision to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognize it as the capital of Israel.

Nine Democratic members of Congress recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding he publish whether aid to the PA has been reduced or eliminated without first speaking to Congress.

.....

[tet68]

“The U.S. administration is demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool.

The Palestinian people and leadership have demonstrated
the use of terror and murder as a political tool.

Hanan has already picked #2, so I guess #1 is ok too.

[avital2]

if reports are correct not only was funding cut (finally!) but their “law of return” is off the table too. i think maybe Mr Trump was verrrrrrrrry unhappy when Abbas lied to him in their face to face meeting. and things went downhill from there.....

[Zeppo]

The U.S. administration is demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool.

I wouldn't call withholding $200 million from such a despicable, murderous group 'cheap' - rather, I'd call it 'priceless'!

[SunkenCiv]

She pushed the button to roll down the window on her limo to make the statement. The fuel gauge was closing in on "E". Thanks Eleutheria5.

[houeto]

Economic meanness = Refuse to give us your money

How quaint.