Congress considers limiting aid to the PA based on PMW documentation

(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee is considering freezing aid to the Palestinian Authority unless its continued incitement against Israel is curtailed, according to a report Saturday on Israel’s Channel 2.

Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz reportedly met with members of Congress to express his appreciation for the initiative.

“Maybe now, when there is international recognition and a monetary threat on the aid, the incitement will lessen,” Steinitz said.

Channel 2 reported that Israel recently turned down the offer to establish a joint action committee with the U.S. to deal with PA incitement against Israel, due to concerns that it would be ineffective.

Israel reportedly put forward two conditions for its participation in such a committee: limiting debate periods to ensure implementation of decisions, and a focus on incitement within the official Palestinian media.

Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, told JNS.org, “How can the U.S. justify funding a PA regime that glorifies murderers—using American money? How can the U.S. justify giving money to a regime that demonizes Jews as descendants of monkeys and pigs? Conditioning funding on the end of hatred is the ethical thing to do. And hopefully the PA will get the message that they have to choose between being a terror-promoting entity ostracized by the U.S. and the Western countries, like Hamas, or a sincere peace partner.”

America’s current funding of the PA “has enabled them to continue promoting hate and terror and still be seen as a peace partner, even though the two are inherently contradictory,” added Marcus.