The United States of America is resuming payments to the United Nations Relief Organization

aUS President Joe Biden announced that he will resume payment of United Nations aid to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA). On Wednesday, the president told reporters that Washington would pay back a $ 150 million contribution that his predecessor Donald Trump suspended in 2018.

The US State Department said that Washington will provide an additional $ 75 million (about 63 million euros) in economic and development aid to the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, in addition to ten million dollars (about 8.5 million euros) for peacekeeping operations. Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken said the aid was “a way forward on the road to a negotiated two-state solution”.

Criticism from Israel

Israel denounced the US support for the United Nations relief agency on Wednesday. “We believe that this United Nations facility for so-called” refugees “should not be in its current form, said the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Gilad Erdan. According to Israel, students in schools supported by the Relief Agency are inciting against the Jewish state.

On the Palestinian side, Prime Minister Muhammad Shtajiya welcomed the resumption of aid. “We look forward not only to the resumption of financial aid, but also to the resumption of political relations with the United States.” This will enable the Palestinian people “to exercise their legitimate right to establish their independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital,” Stagh said.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he was pleased with the US government’s announcement. “From my point of view, it sends the right signal: We do not leave people in the area alone,” Maas stressed. UNRWA’s work is “indispensable” as it improves the future prospects of those affected and creates tangible perspectives. Germany has supported UNRWA for years.