The Bush administration plans to give $20 million in aid directly to the Palestinian Authority, bypassing congressional restrictions as part of a renewed push for peace in the Middle East, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
| My initial thought was that it would be better to wait until after the elections take place to put any money into Paleostine, but presumably Bush expects to get something for the money. I wouldn't count on it too heavily, though... |
The administration notified key congressional committees on Wednesday of its plans, which could be announced when outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with Palestinian officials in the West Bank early next week. A congressional aide said the move does not require congressional approval, just congressional notification. But key lawmakers are already raising objections that could force the White House to reconsider. The sources said the money is part of a concerted push by the Bush administration and its European allies to help the Palestinians organize January presidential elections to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat, who died last week. The $20 million in US funding, the sources said, would be overseen by Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, a former International Monetary Fund official with strong US backing, and could be used to pay Palestinian Authority salaries. Critics in Congress say stringent safeguards are needed to ensure that US taxpayer money is not siphoned off by corrupt Palestinian officials or used by terrorist groups. |