Australia ends direct aid to Palestinian Authority

Australia is stopping its direct aid to Palestinians, and will instead give to the United Nations' humanitarian relief efforts.

Australia has announced that it will stop funding the Palestinian Authority.

Australia has announced that it will stop funding the Palestinian Authority. Source: AAP

Australia ended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority on Monday over fears it could be used to support people convicted of political violence.

Canberra will halt the $10 million per year it gave to the World Bank's trust fund for Palestinian recovery and development, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

"I wrote to the Palestinian Authority on May 29, to seek clear assurance that Australian funding is not being used to assist Palestinians convicted of politically-motivated violence," she said in a statement.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop. Source: AAP
"I am confident that previous Australian funding to the PA through the World Bank has been used as intended.

"However, I am concerned that in providing funds for this aspect of the PA's operations there is an opportunity for it to use its own budget to activities that Australia would never support."

Australia will instead send the money to the United Nations' Humanitarian Fund for the Palestinian Territories, which provides vulnerable Palestinians with access to health care, food, water, improved sanitation and shelter.

The fund helps 1.9 million people and around three-quarters of its money is spent in Gaza, where living conditions are deteriorating as tensions increase with Israel.

Canberra's decision comes amid worsening relations between the Palestinian Authority and Australia's key ally the United States.

President Donald's Trump's administration sparked anger across the Arab world in December by recognising Jerusalem as capital of the Jewish state.

The Palestinian leadership responded by freezing all contacts with US officials.


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2 min read
Published 2 July 2018 5:22pm
Updated 2 July 2018 10:21pm
Source: AFP, SBS


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