Australia Stops Direct PA Aid Over Terror Stipends

Today’s Top Stories

1. Australia stopped its $10 million funding for the Palestinian Authority amid concerns that the assistance was freeing up other money for the PA to spend on stipends for imprisoned terrorists and the families of “martyrs.” Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement:

I am confident that previous Australian funding to the PA through the World Bank has been used as intended. However, I am concerned that in providing funds for this aspect of the PA’s operations there is an opportunity for it to use its own budget to activities that Australia would never support.

Any assistance provided by the Palestine Liberation Organisation to those convicted of politically motivated violence is an affront to Australian values, and undermines the prospect of meaningful peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

More on the story at the Sydney Morning Herald and AP.

2. Seeking to thwart a yet-to-be-released US peace plan, Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to form a new unity government — including Hamas — and arrange Palestinian elections. According to Asharq al-Awsat, Abbas is also looking into the possibility of bringing former PA prime minister Salam Fayyad to lead the new government.

Fayyad was prime minister between June 2007 and June 2013 and was succeeded by current PM Rami Hamdallah. Palestinians haven’t held national elections since 2005 and the 82-year-old Abbas is in the 13th year of a four-year term as President of the PA. Previous attempts to organize elections collapsed amid Fatah-Hamas feuding.

3. According to the Daily Mirror, Prince William has caught the Mideast peacemaking bug and “has pledged to make peace in the Middle East his ‘lifelong project’ after his historic trip to the region.”

A highly-placed Palace source told the Sunday Mirror that the Duke is determined to solve the region’s long-simmering mutual hostility – a problem which has stumped a series of world leaders . . .

An insider revealed: “The politicians who affect this younger generation’s lives may only be in office for five, 10 or 20 years – but William knows his duty is for life.”

Tradition dictates that royals stay neutral rather than entering the political landscape at home or abroad.

But sources say William wants to play a significant role in bringing “peace and prosperity” to the Middle East and intends to use his global platform as a force for good in the region.

In the News

• Anti-Israel activists are pushing the European Union to exclude Israel from research projects that are part of the Horizon 2020 R&D program. Israel HaYom reports that “154 organizations from 16 countries signed a letter urging EU lawmakers to exclude Israeli defense contractors from $117 billion research and innovation program in 2021-2027.” If the boycotters succeed, the exclusion could cost Israel billions of dollars in grants.

• A prominent Jewish Boycott Divestment and Sanctions activist was barred from entering Israel on Sunday. Ariel Gold, is the national co-director of Code Pink and an unequivocal supporter of BDS.

Gold had reportedly come to Israel on a visa to take part in a Jewish studies program at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In interviews, she has spoken of her desire to learn more about Judaism.

However, Israeli officials believed she was actually here to urge support for a boycott of Israel.

• Haaretz takes a closer look at budding Israel-Bahrain ties.

• Palestinian Authority condemns annual Jerusalem Light Festival as “judaizing” the city.

• Kansas judge dismisses lawsuit over Israel boycott ban but orders state to pay legal fees.

• The BDS movement is not only struggling to gain traction in Germany, it faces a surprisingly broad spectrum of opposition. The New York Times examines why.

Commentary

• Worth reading: Moshe Yaalon (former defense minister) and MK Yair Lapid (who serves on the Knesset Committee on Intelligence and the Secret Services) make the case for why the West should recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Their argument boils down to three elements, namely a) historical Jewish claims, b) it’s not in Israeli interests to trust Bashar Assad, and c) taking the Golan away punishes the Assad regime for using chemical weapons without requiring Western boots on the ground.

• Here’s what else I’m reading today:

– Amos Harel: In bid to avoid conflict, Israel unlikely to help Syrian rebels near its border
– Seth Frantzman: Syria challenge: How will Netanyahu act?
– Yoav Limor: Things up north can quickly go south
– Daniel Shapiro: Trump’s appeasement of Putin will backfire on Israel
– Prof. Eyal Zisser: Arab states not waiting for the Palestinians
– Gary Rosenblatt: ‘Kill The messenger’: How the Annapolis shooting hits home

Featured image: CC BY daliscar1; Golan CC BY-NC Israel Defense Forces;

For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.

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