"The decisions by President Donald Trump to have the United States stop funding United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which aids those defined as Palestinian refugees, as well as cut funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) has prompted criticism and predictions of disaster.
...
Trump, on the other hand, argued in a pre-Rosh Hashanah call with Jewish leaders that the reduction or elimination of aid would provide an incentive for the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel.
...
The question of aid to the Palestinians is not a new one, and the past shows that even generous aid doesn't necessarily help most Palestinians.
...
Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas in Gaza - have continued this tradition of enriching themselves and their families at the expense of their constituents.
Abbas has reportedly used his international connections not to create a functioning democracy in the West Bank, but to further the business ambitions of his sons. He also has been accused of misappropriating more than $100 million in aid money.
Haniyeh, according to an investigative report, is a multi-millionaire.
If the Palestinian leadership, the way it is currently constituted, provides its top officials with fabulous wealth, what incentive do they have to change? The lack diplomatic progress preserves their status.
Because of corruption in the ranks of their leaders, aid to the Palestinians has become more of an obstacle than an incentive for peace..."