ZOA lobbies against Palestinian, Egyptian aid

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Zionist Organization of America on its annual Capitol Hill mission lobbied for an end to assistance for the Palestinian Authority and conditions on aid to Egypt.

Hundreds of activists met with “over a hundred” lawmakers and their aides on May 23, a ZOA statement said.

The group called for the suspension of assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it arrests terrorists and ends what ZOA says is its anti-Israel incitement.

Centrist pro-Israel groups oppose cutting all assistance to the Palestinian Authority, in part because Israel’s defense establishment works closely with the PA to maintain calm in the West Bank.

The ZOA also called for conditioning aid to Egypt on the Camp David peace treaty with Israel, which successive US administrations have done.

Speakers at the ZOA Capitol Hill luncheon included Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).