US President Donald Trump rejected a request by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow the transfer of millions of dollars to the Palestinian security forces, according to sources in Tel Aviv.
It was reported that Trump refused the request, stating: “If it is that important to Netanyahu, he should pay the Palestinians the $12 million.”
The State Department realized six month ago that a sum of $12 million was prepared in aid to Palestinian security forces had neither been stopped, nor transferred amid its aid cuts to the Palestinians, the sources added.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer made efforts to convince Washington to allow the money to be transferred to Palestinian security forces.
To support his demand, he told the US that these forces help with "counter-terror efforts”.
Since Trump took an initial stance to halt aid to the PA, then he is the only official entitled to approve this transfer.
However, he rejected the demand and insisted that he would offer aid under the condition that the Palestinians stop their boycott to the US administration and return to dialogue.
