US State Department funding bill to send $3.3B to Israel, sets conditions on aid to Palestine
US State Department funding bill to send $3.3B to Israel, sets conditions on aid to Palestine
US State Department funding bill to send $3.3B to Israel, sets conditions on aid to Palestine
According to the text of the bill, US security assistance for the West Bank and Gaza would be blocked unless the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that Palestinians are meeting US-set benchmarks and taking steps to end alleged “torture” and other abuses by Palestinian security forces.
The bill further blocks such assistance if Palestinians initiate or actively support investigations at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli nationals for alleged crimes against Palestinians.
The National Security and State Department bill provides $6.77 billion for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, including at least $3.3 billion in grants for Israel, which would be disbursed within 30 days of enactment and used for advanced weapons systems.