Feinstein: President Trump's Aid Cuts Further Punish Palestinians

Press Release

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on President Trump's decision to cut more than $200 million in aid to the Palestinian people:

"President Trump's decision to cut nearly all humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank shows how little he cares about the Palestinian people. Cutting U.S. assistance is a huge mistake that will undermine the Palestinian Authority, further empower extremists like Hamas and make peace even harder to achieve.

"The living conditions in Gaza in particular have become a humanitarian crisis. Stopping vital funding for health care, water sanitization, education and infrastructure will only make an already volatile situation worse.

"If the president follows through with this decision, it will continue to make it impossible for the United States to act as a neutral arbiter between the Israelis and Palestinians. It shows the Trump administration won't honor U.S. commitments and has completely abandoned the peace process.

"Instead of using assistance as a cudgel against the Palestinian Authority, the president should reverse course and defuse this humanitarian crisis."

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