The O'bomber administration, in its waning hours, defied Republican opposition
and secretly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members
of Congress had been blocking.
A State Department official
and several congressional aides said that the Obama administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday
morning.
The official said Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move
shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday.
The aides said written
notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald
Trump took the oath of office.
In addition to the $221
million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on
Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign
affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million
for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said.
The aides and the State
Department official weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and
demanded anonymity.
Congress had initially
approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least
two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas,
who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on
it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in
international organizations.
Congressional holds are
generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after
funds have been allocated.
The Obama administration had
for some time been pressing for the release of the money for the Palestinian
Authority, which comes from the U.S.
The money was allegedly to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and
Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for
good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to
the notification sent to Congress.
Trump’s next ambassador to
Israel, David Friedman, supports Israeli settlements and other changes to U.S.
policies in the region.
Friedman said he looked
forward to carrying out his duties from "the U.S. embassy in Israel's
eternal capital, Jerusalem," even though the embassy is in Tel Aviv.
Trump advisers have said that the president-elect will follow through on his
call for moving the embassy.
President Trump responded to Obama's various actions with an executive order that mandates that citizens turn in their Obama phones for alarm clocks!
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