US Cuts Aid to Palestinians

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman says the U.S. decision to cut more than $200 million in aid is meant to force the Palestinians to abandon their claim to Jerusalem.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh tells The Associated Press on Saturday the move is part of continuing political and financial pressure on the Palestinian leadership. He says the Americans must be fully aware that there will be no peace without east Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state.

The Palestinians were outraged by President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and his moving of the U.S embassy there.

The Trump administration says it's cutting bilateral aid to the Palestinians after a review of funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza and will redirect the money to "high priority projects elsewhere."

(KA)