(The Hill) Rebecca Shabad - On Thursday, the PA submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of alleged Israeli war crimes. "By formally submitting allegations against Israeli forces to the ICC Chief Prosecutor, President Abbas has triggered a provision in U.S. law that suspends all economic assistance to the PA," Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. Lowey said Congress crafted the law to prevent U.S. tax dollars from rewarding "purposely provocative, unilateral steps" that threaten peace negotiations. "President Abbas' actions...reveal his willingness to try to discredit Israel in the international community at the expense of the economic and humanitarian wellbeing of the Palestinian people," Lowey added. The chairwoman of the Appropriations panel with jurisdiction over foreign aid, Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), said current law "prohibits economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority if they initiate or actively support an International Criminal Court investigation."
2015-06-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive