ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) – Palestinian Ambassador to France Salman Harfi said on Tuesday that US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman lied about Washington providing $5 million to help the Palestinian Authority curb the spread of the coronavirus, saying that Palestinians “did not get a cent” from the pledged funds.
On Thursday, Friedman wrote on Twitter that he was pleased that the US was giving $5 million to Palestinian hospitals and households for meeting immediate, life-saving needs in combating COVID-19.
The diplomat said that the US gave $3.5 million to NGOs that work with Washington.
Trump, who has been a critic of the World Health Organization’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, announced halting funding for the UN agency earlier in April.
Harfi recalled that in 2018, the Trump administration decided to cut more than $200 million in aid to Palestinians.
Also, in 2018, it cut financial aid for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Trump has been criticized for jeopardizing Palestinians’ ability to cope with the pandemic and putting the global health response at risk by halting US funding to the UN-led agencies.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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