The United States House of Representatives approved 200 million dollars in aid for Palestinians Thursday through the FY 2005 Emergency War Supplemental legislation. On the surface, the bill aims to assist the Palestinians in improving their economy through various programs and activities. But despite this seemingly generous offer, the bill is deceptive and hypocritical. It is full of imposed restrictions on how the money can be spent, making it very unlikely that the Palestinians will ever see the financial aid or the benefits from this legislation.

U.S. President George W. Bush requested 200 million dollars to assist the Palestinian National Authority. However, Congress, mostly likely through the influence of pro-Zionist lobbying, not only denied any direct financial support for the PNA, but it also excluded the authority for the president to waive prohibitions on funding to the Palestinian government. Ultimately, Congress holds the purse strings and dictates the allocation of money, stripping the president’s powers in the conduction of foreign policy. Thus, Congress is the one running foreign policy when it is in its interest to do so – something it is infamous for in issues concerning Israel. Aside from the fact that the restrictions on this bill are deceptive in its support for and to the Palestinians, the manipulations of Congress in reference to governmental powers and policy have serious constitutional implications within U.S. law.

Adding insult to injury, the emergency supplemental bill also stipulates where and how the money should be allocated. On the ground, about a quarter of the aid is going directly to Israel: 50 million dollars will go directly to Israel for border enhancement under the guise of economic revitalization by improving the flow of people and goods into Israel; and two million dollars will go toward the healthcare activities of Hadassah, an Israeli hospital in Jerusalem, in order to provide adequate healthcare for Palestinian women and children, who are many times prohibited from going to Israel, which includes Jerusalem.

The language of the legislation, particularly in reference to the restrictions, is vague and ambiguous, making it impossible for the Palestinians to fully implement. It is completely subjective. Until the language and meaning of the restrictions are specifically defined, which is a long and devious process in and of itself, the distribution of the aid will be halted. In essence, the restrictions actually water down the effectiveness of the assistance to Palestinians.

For example, five million dollars will go toward an audit of the funds, investigating the PNA’s handling and use of all monetary assistance. However, if there is not direct aid to the government, then for what exactly is the money being spent?

After all the provisions, only 143 million dollars is available for the Palestinians, which will actually be channeled through American aid agencies, non-governmental organizations and philanthropic groups.

The bill is tied up with so many restrictions that it becomes virtually meaningless. The U.S. Congress is making this legislation look like generous aid to the Palestinians, but in reality, it is just funneling money back into Israel to carry out more humanitarian and international law violations against Palestinians.

The hypocritical part is that the U.S. already provides Israel three billion dollars a year in grants – the largest annual recipient of U.S. aid. Furthermore, the assistance is given as direct government-to-government budgetary support with no specific project restrictions or guidelines, leaving Israel the capability to use U.S. funds in any way it chooses. Hence, there is no accounting for how Israel really uses the money.

Actually giving aid is an effort to provide somebody with help they need to achieve something. As written, the emergency supplemental bill lacks and deprives the Palestinians of this objective. MIFTAH urges the U.S. to loosen its tight grip on the Palestinians and be a fair and just peace broker. Showing confidence in the Palestinians is necessary for not only political, but also economic progress and success.