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Monday 15 January 2018
APNewsBreak: US set to cut UN money for Palestinian refugees
By MATTHEW LEE that “the decision is under
JULIE PACE review. There are still delib-
Associated Press erations taking place.” The
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House did not imme-
Trump administration is pre- diately respond to ques-
paring to withhold tens of tions about the matter.
millions of dollars from the The administration could
U.N. agency for Palestinian announce its decision as
refugees, cutting the year’s early as Tuesday, the offi-
first contribution by more cials said. The plan to with-
than half or perhaps entire- hold some of the money
ly, and making additional is backed by Secretary
donations contingent on of State Rex Tillerson and
major changes to the or- Defense Secretary James
ganization, according to Mattis, who offered it as a
U.S. officials. compromise to demands
President Donald Trump for more drastic measures
hasn’t made a final deci- by U.N. Ambassador Nikki
sion, but appears more Haley, the officials said.
likely to send only $60 mil- Haley wants a complete
lion of the planned $125 cutoff in U.S. money un-
million first installment to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaks during a meeting with the Palestinian Central til the Palestinians resume
the U.N. Relief and Works Council, a top decision-making body, at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, peace talks with Israel that
Agency, said the officials, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. have been frozen for years.
who weren’t authorized to (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed,l) But Tillerson, Mattis and
publicly discuss the matter anonymity. Future contri- agency, facing heavy Is- strate significant changes others say ending all assis-
and spoke on condition of butions would require the raeli criticism, to demon- in operations, they said, tance would exacerbate
adding that one sugges- instability in the Mideast,
tion under consideration notably in Jordan, a host
would require the Palestin- to hundreds of thousands
ians to first re-enter peace of Palestinian refugees
talks with Israel. The State and a crucial U.S. strategic
Department said Sunday partner.q
White House:
US plan sees deterrence
in new nuclear firepower
By ROBERT BURNS new, more modern weap-
AP National Security Writer ons over the coming two
WASHINGTON (AP) — With decades.
Russia in mind, the Trump It says the U.S. will adhere
administration is aiming to to existing arms control
develop new nuclear fire- agreements, while express-
power that it says will make ing doubt about prospects
it easier to deter threats to for any new such pacts. The
European allies. Trump nuclear doctrine is
The plan, not yet approved expected to be published
by President Donald Trump, in early February, followed
is intended to make nucle- by a related policy on the
ar conflict less likely. Critics role and development of
argue it would do the op- U.S. defenses against bal-
posite. listic missiles.
The proposal is spelled Where the Trump doctrine
out in a policy document, splits from Obama’s ap-
known officially as a “nu- proach is in ending his push
clear posture review,” that to reduce the role of nucle-
puts the U.S. in a generally ar weapons in U.S. defense
more aggressive nuclear policy. Like Obama, Trump
stance. It is the first review would consider using nu-
of its kind since 2010 and is clear weapons only in
among several studies of “extreme circumstances,”
security strategy undertak- while maintaining a degree
en since Trump took office. of ambiguity about what
In many ways it reaffirms that means. But Trump sees
the nuclear policy of Presi- a fuller deterrent role for
dent Barack Obama, in- these weapons, as reflect-
cluding his commitment to ed in the plan to develop
replace all key elements new capabilities to counter
of the nuclear arsenal with Russia in Europe.q
