(AP) Bradley Klapper - The Obama administration said Monday it was reviewing its annual $440 million aid package to the Palestinians because of their effort to join the International Criminal Court to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel. "We're deeply troubled by the Palestinian action," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. Joining the court "is entirely counterproductive and does nothing to further the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a sovereign and independent state. It badly damages the atmosphere with the very people with whom they ultimately need to make peace." Under American law, any Palestinian case against Israel at the court would trigger an immediate cutoff of U.S. financial support. Psaki also criticized Israel for withholding tens of millions in tax revenues to the Palestinians, saying such a step "raises tensions."
2015-01-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive