He supported Israel yet, at the same time repeatedly awarded Israel’s terrorist enemies with gifts. In his last moments in office, Obama gave the PA another gift, $221 million. In doing so Obama defied Republican opposition by quietly releasing the funds that GOP members of Congress had previously blocked according to the Associated Press.
Originally, Congress had approved the funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but Ed Royce of California, and Kay Granger of Texas, issued a withholding order on it over Palestinian Authority attempts to seek membership in the UN. Generally speaking, the president respects congressional holds but if the funds were already allocated the hold is void. That is precisely what Obama did. A State Department official and several congressional aides said Obama’s administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. So the money is spent and the congressional hold is null and void.
The money is slated to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress.
Steps that blatantly fly in face of the policy of the new president are usually not taken by the leaving president at the end of office. But that did not stop Obama from looking out for his friends. Congress and Trump will likely be angry and denounce the Palestinian funding but they may have no legal means to retrieve them.
