By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. on Friday announced it is cutting all of its funding for the UN's Palestine refugee agency.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington “will no longer commit further funding ” to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
“The fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years – tied to UNRWA’s endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries – is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years, ” she said.
The U.S. was by far UNRWA's largest funder, giving $350 million annually, or about one-quarter of the agency's budget.
UNRWA earlier this week warned if Washington went through with its funding cut it would likely result in greater instability.
