The Biden administration has announced it will send $100,000 in taxpayer funds to Palestinian groups that "promote diversity, equity, inclusion" through its "American-Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative.
The funding is intended to "improve American-Palestinian relations" when terrorists are causing chaos across Israel, including a series of rocket attacks this week by the Iran-funded Hamas militant group.
The State Department says it can help ease tensions by boosting engagement with the Palestinians and funding various programs promoting peace. "Special consideration" for the latest grant program "will be given to proposals that demonstrate how the program advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or disability," the grant reads.
However, the timing of the release of the grant opportunity has raised concerns among some former U.S. officials who say the Biden administration should not be rewarding the Palestinian government as terror factions murder Israelis in the streets and launch missiles at the Jewish state.
Palestinian terrorists, including a British-Israeli family, have gunned down several Israelis in the past month. This week, gaza-based militants also stepped up their operations, firing dozens of rockets into Israeli communities.
"The timing of the release of the grant opportunity is a bit tone deaf," said Bonnie Glick, former deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. This State Department organization oversees funding in the Middle East. Glick said all Palestinian funds should be withheld to incentivize the government to end its support for terrorism. "Withholding funds ... might allow Palestinian leaders to rethink their priorities and control, rather than incite, their restive population," Glick said.
Critics like Glick say these programs do not appear to be diffusing tensions. Upon first entering office, the Biden administration restarted millions in funding for UNRWA and other U.N. entities that had been cut off during the Trump administration due to their anti-Israel agenda.
"The Biden Administration's massive funding of Palestinian-leaning entities like UNRWA and MEPPA should be more than enough to solidify American-Palestinian relations," Glick said, "and if not, maybe we need to examine the underlying basis of our relationship with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas before granting any further funds."
A State Department spokesman defended the program, saying cultural initiatives are needed to help foster peace, even during heightened violence. "Our Office of Palestinian Affairs is focused on engagement with and outreach to Palestinians, including through cultural affairs grants," the spokesman said. "Investing in civil society and people-to-people ties is a critical part of diplomatic outreach and efforts to promote peace, and even more imperative at times of heightened tensions."
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