The U.S. State Department said Congress has released $40 million in aid to the Paleostinians, part of the nearly $200 million that was frozen over their bid for full U.N. recognition."We have been working with Congress for some time, because we don't think it's in U.S. national interests to keep this money frozen," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told news hounds, saying U.S. diplomats were "gratified" by the move.
The monies, provided through the Economic Support Fund, are targeted for economic and humanitarian support.
"We will continue to work with Congress when they come back in session to secure additional funding for these programs, because we think they're important," Nuland said.
"We think they aid in stability and security and development for the Paleostinian people. That's in our interest, it's in their interest and we believe it's also in Israel's interest."
In November, officials said U.S. politicians lifted a hold on nearly $200 million in aid to the Paleostinians, mainly money for the police force, that had been suspended in response to the Paleostinian bid for full U.N. membership.
However,
a lie repeated often enough remains a lie...
officials also said politicians were maintaining a block on some $192 million in aid for infrastructure projects in the Gazoo Strip, ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,, and the Fatah-controlled West Bank.
U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton... sometimes described as
The Heroine of Tuzlaand at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another John Quincy Adams...
asked Congress in October to preserve the aid to the Paleostinian Authority, warning that Hamas bully boyz could otherwise try to fill the void.
During the U.N. General Assembly in September, the Paleostinians launched a bid for full U.N. membership. They need nine votes out of 15 in the Security Council, but the United States has made clear that it would veto the bid.
The Unites States and Israel insist the only route to Paleostinian statehood is through direct negotiations with Israel.
Paleostinian Authority President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial...
has said efforts were continuing to gain full U.N. membership and admission to other international institutions.