After Pakistan, Trump threatens to stop aid to Palestine

By Anupama Vijayakumar

Jan 04, 2018

12:25 am

What's the story

After launching a scathing verbal attack on Pakistan on New Year's Day, US President Donald Trump has lashed out at Palestine on Twitter. In a tweet, he stated that the US will cut off financial aid to "Palestinians who are unwilling to talk peace." Trump's tweet comes as Palestinians are protesting his announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Here's more about it.

Twitter Post

Trump: Why should we pay Palestine?

...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

Information

US aid to Palestine

The US is the largest government-donor to the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Washington has donated $370m to the agency in 2016. The funds are directed toward running education, health and social programs. Absence of US funding is likely to impact the agency's work.

Analysis

Will economic coercion work with Palestine?

In the recent past, Trump has threatened to cut off aid for countries which are largely dependent on US financial aid for their subsistence such as Pakistan. The administration seems to be consistently employing economic coercion to handle countries that act against US interests. While this can be effective in certain cases, it is likely to worsen the prevailing tense situation in Palestine.