JERUSALEM (AP) — The United Arab Emirates drastically reduced its funding to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in 2020, the year it signed a US-brokered normalization accord with Israel that was heavily criticized by the Palestinian Authority. The UAE donated $51.8 million to UNRWA in 2018 and again in 2019, but in 2020 it gave the agency just $1 million, agency spokesman Sami Mshasha said Friday, after it was first reported by Israeli media. The Palestinian Authority, however, viewed the agreements as a betrayal and harshly criticized the UAE. The Trump administration cut off all funding to UNRWA in 2018, one of several unprecedented steps it took to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians. The Biden administration announced last month that it would restore aid to the Palestinians, including to refugees, and says it will work to revive peace negotiations.

Source: Egypt Independent February 06, 2021 02:37 UTC