UNITED NATIONS: Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has acc­u­sed Middle Eastern countr­ies of not doing enough to fin­ancially help the Palestinians and assist them in moving the peace process forward.

“Where are the Arab cou­ntries when it comes to supporting compromises that are necessary for peace,” Haley said in remarks during a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

“It is time for the regional states, in particular, to step up and really help, instead of just making speeches thousands of miles away,” Haley said at the UNSC’s monthly meeting on the Middle East.

Spokespersons for Muslim countries defended their actions and promised more money to help beleaguered Palestinians.

“Where are the Arab countries when it comes to encouraging reconciliation between Palestinian factions, which is essential to peace?”

In January, US President Donald Trump’s administration announced that it was withholding 62 million dollars out of a $125m funding plan for the relief agency.

The move essentially cut the only lifeline available to millions of registered refugeesacross the Middle East who have been relying on the services of the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for more than 70 years.

According to UN officials, the US provided $364m to the agency last year, but only $60m this year.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2018