Washington, July 09: In a major policy shift, United States has decided to provide direct funding to Palestinian Authority for social service projects, a media report said here today. Though the initial funding is small – USD 20 million -- its symbolic value is much greater, the Washington Post reported.
The decision marks an important shift in US policy designed to bolster the new Palestinain Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas and offer a counterweight to services provided by militant groups like Hamas, the report said.
In the past, successive us governments had given limited humanitarian aid to Palestinians through the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.
US administration officials, in briefing Congressional leaders about the aid decision, stressed the urgency of the action, saying they want to get the funds to the Palestinian Authority as quickly as possible to shore up Abbas as he tries to establish his credibility with Palestinian people. Bureau Report