Recently, President Barack Obama submitted to Congress a FY09 Supplemental Budget Request, which includes aid for Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon, as well as a provision to permit responsible U.S. engagement with a Palestinian Unity Government. On April 23rd, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified to the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs of the House Committee On Appropriations concerning this Budget Request. Today, Secretary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified to the Senate Committee on Appropriations regarding the Request. In the coming week, both Committees will be meeting to "mark up" the bill. Since opposition to the Palestinian portion of the Request is brewing, it is important to contact your elected officials and ask them to support this important aid package.
This aid package is vital to the Administration's comprehensive Middle East peace effort, but there is skepticism in Congress. Some House members view supporting the Palestinian people as a waste of money or equate it with a handout to Hamas. Some of these Representatives are seeking to limit the Administration's ability to provide aid to a Palestinian Unity Government, should one emerge this year.
The Request continues to bar aid to Hamas, but it would allow aid to go to a Unity Government that meets three longstanding internationally agreed-upon conditions: recognition of Israel, renouncing of violence, and compliance with past Israeli-Palestinian agreements. These conditions are the same as those mandated in 2006 by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bush.
The funding is necessary to address urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, promote economic development in the West Bank, foster stable government institutions, and enhance security efforts. Failure to confront these issues will weaken U.S. credibility and contribute to greater regional instability.
Listed below are the items from the FY09 Supplemental Budget Request that pertain to the Palestinians:
Migration and Refugee Assistance (Page 89 of 107 in pdf, Page 81 of actual document)
$25 million for assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
$125 million to support emergency humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank.
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (Page 90 of 107 in pdf, Page 82 of actual document)
$109 million to train and equip Palestinian security forces and to enhance security along the Gaza border.
Economic Support Funds (Page 91 of 107 in pdf, Page 83 of actual document)
$200 million for budget support to the Palestinian Authority.
$93 million for institutional capacity building, and investments in education and social services in the West Bank.
$12 million for humanitarian assistance in the West Bank.
$60 million to promote West Bank economic growth.
$30 million to support governance and rule of law in the West Bank.
$95 million to support programs in Gaza to improve basic human needs, support economic recovery, create jobs, and restore some humanitarian essential services.
$61 million for immediate humanitarian and food relief to Gazans through well-established international organizations.
$5 million for contractor and locally engaged staff, program oversight, and related security and other support costs.
Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs (Page 96 of 107 in pdf, Page 88 of actual document)
$50 million to provide border security equipment, training, and program management for Egypt to prevent smuggling of illicit goods into Gaza.
USAID (U.S. Agency For International Development) Operating Expenses (Page 100 of 107 in pdf, Page 92 of actual document)
$5 million for U.S. direct hires, program oversight, and related security and other support costs for increased assistance programs in the West Bank and Gaza.
General Provisions: Waiver of Authorization Requirements (Page 104 of 107 in pdf, Page 96 of actual document
None of the funds made available in this Act may be made available for assistance to Hamas, or any entity effectively controlled by Hamas or any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member: Provided, That assistance may be provided to a power-sharing government if the President certifies in writing and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government has accepted and is complying with the principles contained in section 620K(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended: Provided further, That the President may exercise the authority in section 620K(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act as added by the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (Pub. L. No. 109-446) with respect to this section.
This provision prohibits the use of Supplemental funds for assistance to Hamas, Hamas-controlled entities, or any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member. Assistance may be provided to a power-sharing government acceptable to the United States if the President certifies to the standards in section 620K(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Foreign Assistance Act. It is expected that such a power-sharing government would speak authoritatively for the entire Palestinian Authority government, including its ministries, agencies and instrumentalities. This provision also would allow the President to utilize the waiver authority provided in the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 for the purposes provided.
Please contact your elected officials and ask them to support the President and the Palestinian related provisions of the FY09 Supplemental Budget Request:
1)Call your house and senate members by way of the toll-free Capitol Switchboard, (877)762-8762 or (800)828-0498.
2)E-mail your officials through their office websites, which can be accessed through the House and Senate websites.
3)E-mail your officials through prepared letters from Americans For Peace Now, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, JStreet and/or Churches For Middle East Peace.
Hat Tip: Lara Friedman at Americans For Peace Now
