Context
United States threatened to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority if it continues with its decision to ask the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state in next month’s meeting. According to reports, the statement was made on Friday by Daniel Rubinstein, the US consul general in Jerusalem to Saeb Eraketm, the Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator. “In case the Palestinian Authority seeks to upgrade its position at the UN through the General Assembly, the US Congress will take punitive measures against it, including a cut in US aid,” Rubinstein said, according to the statement.
Palestine currently receives $460million from the United States, more than 10 percent of the authority’s annual budget.
