Arab support for the budget of the Palestinian Authority, which is responsible for the occupied territories, excluding Gaza, fell by 82 percent in the first eight months of this year. According to data published by the PA Ministry of Finance, Arab countries paid $38.1 million to the PA in 2020, compared to $198.33 million in the same period last year. US President Donald Trump has announced over the past few months that he has asked wealthy Arab states to stop giving money to Palestinians. In July, Palestinian Authority Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara reported that the Arab states had suspended their financial aid to the Palestinian government. The drop in Arab aid normally coincides with budget deficits in supporting countries due to the sharp fall in oil prices and reduced demand for crude oil.

Saudi aid fell 77.2 percent, down from $130 million in the same period of 2019 to just $30.8 million this year. Algerian aid, which paid $26.1 million in the first eight months of 2019, fell to zero. Palestine said last week that Arab aid for its budget has fallen by 55 percent from $1.1 billion over the past five years. Palestine is during its worst monetary crisis ever since it refused to accept the tax revenues Israel collects on its behalf since July, the official said. At that time, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, announced that all agreements with the occupying state were suspended.

Taken from mirathaber.com