GOP pressures State Dept. on funding anti-Israel group linked to terrorism
House Republicans Demand Investigation into State Department Funding of Gaza Strip Group Accused of Supporting Terrorists
A pair of House Republicans are calling on the State Department to explain its decision to provide funding to a Gaza Strip-based group accused of collaborating with and supporting Palestinian terrorists. The Phoenix Center for Research and Field Studies, which has ties to designated terror groups, received a combined $90,000 in grants from the State Department between August and September. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging him to take immediate action and provide an explanation for the allocation of funds.
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The lawmakers stated in their letter, “We respectfully request that you look into this matter and, if the matter proves to be as stated by NGO Monitor, we request further to be informed how the selection of Phoenix Center happened, what remedial action the department will take in regard to these grants, and what action the department will take in order to ensure that this does not happen again.”
The revelation of taxpayer-funded grants has sparked outrage among House Republicans. During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) criticized the State Department for supporting “thugs.” The Phoenix Center for Research and Field Studies, established in 2021 at the University of Gaza, has organized conferences and workshops involving officials from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both recognized as terror groups by the State Department in 1997, according to NGO Monitor.
The grants, totaling $60,000 and $30,000, are linked to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and aim to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and information technology awareness. The programs will continue until next summer.
For example, the Phoenix Center for Research and Field Studies hosted a discussion on President Joe Biden’s visit to the West Bank, coinciding with the announcement of $316 million in Palestinian aid. Senior members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were present at the event, as reported by NGO Monitor.
The Republicans’ letter highlighted a discussion held by the center in September 2022, where participants emphasized the need for “continued resistance action until achieving a third intifada.” Additionally, they pointed out that the center’s programs director, Salah Abdalati, allegedly praised West Bank terror cells during a November 2022 event. Abdalati has expressed support for “armed resistance” against Israel and has praised deceased terrorists on social media.
“This raises concerns about the process by which the Phoenix Center was selected, vetted, and approved as a State Department grantee,” Smith and Bilirakis expressed in their letter to Blinken. They added, “Under absolutely no circumstances should the State Department be subsidizing an organization that promotes the killing of innocent Jews and terror attacks against our great ally Israel.”
Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) called the funding of anti-Israel groups in Gaza and the West Bank by the Biden administration “an international embarrassment.”
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the State Department for comment.
“Under absolutely no circumstances should the State Department be subsidizing an organization that promotes the killing of innocent Jews and terror attacks against our great ally Israel,” the lawmakers added in their letter to Blinken.
How did the selection process take place for awarding the grants to the Phoenix Center, considering their alleged ties to designated terror groups?
Ed to two separate projects conducted by the Phoenix Center. The first grant of $60,000 was awarded for the project titled “Youth Empowerment and Community Development in Gaza,” while the second grant of $30,000 was allocated for the project titled “Promoting Unity and Social Cohesion in Gaza.” Both projects were aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region, according to the State Department.
However, the lawmakers argue that providing funding to an organization with alleged ties to designated terror groups raises serious concerns about the State Department’s vetting process. In their letter, Representatives Smith and Bilirakis raised questions about how the selection process for awarding the grants took place and what measures the State Department will implement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The revelation of these grants has led to calls for immediate action from House Republicans. Representative Burchett strongly condemned the State Department for supporting organizations with alleged ties to terrorists, labeling them as “thugs.” This backlash highlights the need for greater scrutiny and transparency in the allocation of taxpayer-funded grants.
The Phoenix Center for Research and Field Studies, established in 2021, has been involved in organizing conferences and workshops that have included officials from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Both of these groups have been designated as terrorist organizations by the State Department since 1997, according to NGO Monitor.
The accusations against the Phoenix Center have raised concerns about the nature of the organization’s activities and its potential support for terrorism. Supporters of the funding argue that the grants were intended to promote peace and unity in the Gaza Strip, but critics argue that there should have been stronger vetting processes in place to ensure that funds are not being misused or inadvertently aiding terrorist organizations.
The letter from Representatives Smith and Bilirakis calls for a thorough investigation into the matter and demands an explanation from Secretary Blinken. It is essential for the State Department to address these concerns promptly and take appropriate actions to ensure that taxpayer funds are not inadvertently supporting terrorist activities.
In conclusion, the allocation of funds to the Phoenix Center for Research and Field Studies, an organization with alleged ties to designated terror groups, has sparked outrage among House Republicans. It is crucial for the State Department to provide a thorough explanation for the selection of this organization and take remedial action to address these concerns. Transparency and accountability in the allocation of taxpayer-funded grants are necessary to ensure that funds are not inadvertently supporting terrorism.
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