Cons or Lib, does anyone support this? WTF. THESE ARE THE BUDGET CUTS WE SHOULD BE MAKING !!!!!!!
Washington (CNN) -- The United States is giving an additional $150 million in direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Wednesday.
The funds will help the Palestinians close a huge budget gap, Clinton said.
"This figure underscores the strong determination of the American people and this administration to stand with our Palestinian friends, even during difficult economic times as we have here at home," she told reporters at a press briefing.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who appeared at the briefing via a remote video conference from Ramallah, thanked Clinton for the assistance, saying, "The timeliness could not be better."
Clinton said the announcement brings the total of U.S. direct budget assistance to the Palestinian Authority to $225 million this year. With the inclusion of money for security, water, health care, education, and other services, the overall American investment to the Palestinians this year totals nearly $600 million, she said.