Congress puts stranglehold on Palestinian aid
Key lawmakers are incensed with terrorism support and statehood bid.
Congress is blocking almost $160 million in US assistance as the Palestinians prepare to once again take their statehood bid to the UN Security Council later this month.
The money has been on hold since last fall as key lawmakers seek to convince the Palestinians to abandon their unilateral effort to restart stalled peace negotiations through international pressure. House foreign aid appropriations subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas, told Al-Monitor she had no immediate plans to release the aid as her panel prepares to unveil its spending priorities for the next fiscal year.
