Australia ends direct aid to Palestinian Authority

SYDNEY: Australia ended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority on Monday over fears it could be used to support people convicted of political violence.

Canberra will halt the Aus$10 million per year it gave to the World Bank’s trust fund for Palestinian recovery and development, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

"I wrote to the Palestinian Authority on May 29, to seek clear assurance that Australian funding is not being used to assist Palestinians convicted of politically-motivated violence," she said in a statement.

"I am confident that previous Australian funding to the PA through the World Bank has been used as intended.

"However, I am concerned that in providing funds for this aspect of the PA’s operations there is an opportunity for it to use its own budget to activities that Australia would never support."

Australia will instead send the money to the United Nations’ Humanitarian Fund for the Palestinian Territories, which provides vulnerable Palestinians with access to health care, food, water, improved sanitation and shelter.