Controversy Unfolds: U.S. Funds Palestinian Security Forces Amid Growing Tensions

Joe Biden
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a foreign policy address as Vice President Kamala Harris listens during a visit to the State Department in Washington D.C., U.S., Feb. 4, 2021.

The Biden Administration’s decision to allocate over $3 million to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) for firearms and ammunition training has sparked significant controversy.

Quick Takes

  • Over $3 million was allocated to PASF for firearms and ammunition training.
  • This funding forms part of a $20 million package for regional security.
  • Critics highlight PASF’s alleged connections to violent incidents involving Israelis.
  • Concerns arise over potential empowerment of groups linked with terrorist activities.

Funding Allocation Raises Eyebrows

The Biden administration allocated $3 million to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) to enhance firearms and ammunition training, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon. This funding is part of a larger $20 million package aimed at regional security projects across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Jordan. A significant component of this package aims to develop PASF units with training planned at Jordan’s International Police Training Center.

Concerns Over PASF’s Connections

Controversy surrounds the PASF due to alleged ties with terrorist activities, as reported involvement in over 1,500 attacks against Israelis in 2023. Significant portions of the PASF are linked to the Fatah movement, known for connections to terrorism. Despite the State Department’s assurances that funded firearms and ammunition would be for training only, apprehensions persist about possible misuse and empowerment of terrorist-linked groups. The PASF seeks an additional $680 million from the U.S. over the next four years, raising further concerns.

Political Criticism and Concerns

Critics, including Rep. Michael McCaul, have expressed reservations about PASF’s capacity to maintain order and curb terrorism in the region. These concerns are exacerbated by reports of PASF and Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades celebrating the death of a PASF officer who was also a commander in a terrorist organization. Under Biden, an annual $45 million has been reinstated to support PA security services, reversing Trump-era freezes due to terrorism links.

“The PASF have demonstrated an ongoing inability to maintain order in the West Bank, a fact made more concerning by emerging reports of the group’s ties to terrorism in the region,” McCaul told the Free Beacon.

The Biden administration defended the funding as essential for regional stability, fearing that reduced support might compromise efforts to combat terrorism. Yet, many remain apprehensive about potential ramifications, as they closely monitor how this financial support unfolds.