$221 million to the Palestinians in Obama's last hours
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:15 am
This erases all doubts of where Obama's loyalties are.
US quietly sent $221M to Palestinians in Obama's last hours. Officials said Monday that the Obama administration-- in its waning hours-- defied Congressional opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that members of Congress had blocked.
A State Department official and several congressional aides told The Associated Press that the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning.
The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday.
The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said.