Arab countries half their aid to the PA

Arab countries have cut by half the funds they have sent to the Palestinian Authority (PA) budget over the last four years, Israeli TV Channel 2 reported yesterday.

According to Felesteen.ps, financial support from Arab countries to the PA was approximately $1.1 billion over the last four years. This covers on a quarter of the PA’s budget.

Some Palestinian officials speculate Arab states might be withholding the cash to try to persuade the Palestinian factions Fatah, which controls the West Bank, and Hamas, which controls Gaza, towards reconciliation.

Aid is crucial in helping pay the wages of 148,000 PA employees.