'Palestinian state declaration would hurt US funding of PA'

From: Jerusalem Post

A top congresswoman is warning that the US could reduce aid to the Palestinians if they pursue a unilateral declaration of statehood at the UN.

“That would be a very, very bad thing to do,” Rep. Kay Granger, chairwoman of the House appropriations subcommittee overseeing foreign aid, told The Jerusalem Post. (The interview will appear in Monday’s Pessah supplement.) “It will” affect US aid to the Palestinian Authority, the Texas Republican said, adding, “It would be a very serious step. It also could affect our funding at the UN.”

For the time being, however, she said that she supports aid for the Palestinians and sees the US continuing to contribute hundreds of millions in dollars for Palestinian security despite the GOP zeal for reducing spending.

“We believed that was important, and I continue to believe that’s important,” she said. “I’ve been there and seen some of the security that’s occurring that we’re helping to fund. And I think overall it’s a help – it’s a help toward reaching a peace, if we can do that.”

Granger also told the Post that she and other Republicans remained committed to aid for Israel, which totals nearly $3 billion in annual assistance.

“The friendship and assistance is solid from the Congress, both the House and Senate and both Democrats and Republicans,” she said.

When the Republican focus on making cuts – particularly to foreign aid – first surfaced during last year’s congressional campaigns, some Israel-backers, including Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, who is now the House majority leader, suggested funding for Israel might be put in the defense budget. That way, since the defense budget was less likely to face sharp cuts, Israel funding could be more secure.