LTC (R) Peter LernerVerified account

'Expected outcome' is (I suspect) to make PA understand that their actions have ramifications, U.S. will not continue to write blank checks (whether UNRWA or see Taylor Force Act) and to put pressure on them to reform and enter meaningful negotiations.

Nice, but at what price? and will this make Israel safer and more secure? Will it collapse an already failed Palestinian economy? Who will be stuck with the problem? All questions that need to be answered.

If it pushes the Palestinians to reform and back to negotiating table, then obviously positive outcome. But status quo, including cont. to write blank checks & have PA effectively spit in your face also won’t cut it.

I am all for accountability, but a severing the aid will primarily hurt the weakest, undermine security and not guarantee any return to the negotiating table. It just seems like a gut reaction, not a strategy.

The EU or UN can always pick up the tab, or one of the oil rich gulf states. At end of day, Trump is accountable to the American tax payer and needs to show return on investment. UNRWA has long been a major impediment to peace any case & long overdue for major reform.

Fair enough. I'm just concerned what will happen in the interim. I don't think that this will be good for our security and the weakest will pay the price. UNRWA has many issues that need to be addressed including its politics, organization, and inaction to prevent hate education.

Precisely what the Israeli defense establishment has been getting wrong about @UNRWA for decades: @UNRWA perpetuates the conflict by providing support for the Palestinians maximalist delusion of "return" into Israel within the Green Line. There are other ways to provide support.

Hi Einat, long time. I agree, but at the end of the day nobody has done anything to deal with the alternatives. And so the Defense establishment is stuck with the defending. Also, important to keep in mind this decision isn’t about UNRWA, but the PA not coming to the table.

The goal is to achieve security and peace - not to endlessly maintain the PLO.

It's an expression of #AmericaFirst foreign policy which many incorrectly, confuse with isolationism. Trump is literally changing the rules of the game. American foreign policy will no longer be held hostage b/c of some potential resulting consequence in a foreign country

Hi Elie, hope you are well. I have no problem with the policy. As Israelis, before we start celebrating, we need to ask what does this mean for Israel's security and the tens of thousands of dependent Palestinians? Too many questions, in an already unpredictable arena.

That's 30% of their budget. They don't care enough about the common people to negotiate the peace treaty?

For decades the P.A. has done & said nothing as their people have been discriminated against in other Arab nations, not even as they have been starved to death in Syria. Their suffering has been a part of the campaign against Israel. This is no different.

Cut money and they will have to move. They are living on a multi-billion budget

They will have to move? That’s called ethnic cleansing, fyi.