BREAKING: Trump’s State Department Will Now Review Obama’s $221m Transfer to Palestinians

With the outrage growing against Barack Obama’s last minute transferring of $221m to the Palestinian Authority just five days before leaving office, Trump’s State Department announced Tuesday that it will review the last-minute decision which was done over the objections of congressional Republicans.

The purpose of the review is to look at the payment and make possible changes to ensure it complies with the priorities of the Trump administration.

Kerry formally notified Congress that State would release the money Friday morning, just hours before President Trump took the oath of office.

The Congress had initially given approval for the Palestinian funding in the 2015/2016 budget, but Ed Royce (R) of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger (R) of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — put a hold on the transfer as a response to moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Although congressional holds are not legally binding they are generally respected by the executive branch.

Granger released a statement Tuesday saying, “I am deeply disappointed that President Obama defied congressional oversight and released $221 million to the Palestinian territories.”

She added: “I worked to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars would fund the Palestinian Authority unless very strict conditions were met. While none of these funds will go to the Palestinian Authority because of those conditions, they will go to programs in the Palestinian territories that were still under review by Congress. The Obama Administration’s decision to release these funds was inappropriate.”

Rep Kevin McCarthy on Supporting Israel: “The House will not Abstain from its Responsibility”

The House of Representatives plans on a resolution this Thursday condemning what Republicans and many Democrats are calling a direct attack against Israel by President Obama when he refused to veto UN resolution 2334 just before the holidays.

Late on Monday, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., announced a floor vote would be set for Thursday on the resolution opposing the UN’s move.

“This administration has lost all credibility when it comes to Israel,” they said. “The administration’s stunt at the UN hurt our ally Israel and made peace in the region even more difficult to achieve. This Thursday, the House will not abstain from its responsibility and will vote on a bipartisan resolution reaffirming our longstanding policy in the region and support of Israel.”

This is considered to be the first of a volley of congressional push backs against Obama’s assault on Israel in the waning days of his presidency.

As reported yesterday, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., plans to introduce a “sense of the Senate” which will issue a rebuke of the United Nations. Other senators like Lindsay Graham and Cruz are suggesting to defund the UN.

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