Ted Cruz, Other Republicans to Challenge Biden Administration's Plans for Palestinian Refugee Aid
Republican Senator Ted Cruz quickly prepared to mobilize other lawmakers in his party against U.S. aid to Palestine on Wednesday, following a State Department announcement confirming its plans to resume a humanitarian assistance program.
The State Department is coordinating the program with Congress, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The U.N. agency primarily supports relief and development efforts for Palestinian refugees. Donald Trump eliminated federal funding for the UNRWA early in his presidency.
Congressional Republicans such as Cruz have pushed back against the effort to resume aid under President Joe Biden's administration. The new assistance comes as the administration cements a new Mideast policy that in many ways is directly opposite of the one pursued by Trump.
The State Department said it would provide a total of $235 million to projects in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as to the UNRWA, through the assistance program. The administration had previously announced $15 million for the Palestinians to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption of assistance was immediately welcomed by the United Nations, UNRWA itself and the Palestinians, while Israel expressed deep concern.
https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-other-republicans-challenge-biden-administrations-plans-palestinian-refugee-aid-1581839
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