Trump Cuts Funding to Palestinian Security Forces: Is Abbas’ Rule at Risk?
The U.S. halts all financial aid to PA security forces, threatening Mahmoud Abbas’ grip on the West Bank amid growing political and economic crises.
Watan-It appears that U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to abandon Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority (PA) after years of generous financial support for its security forces. The Trump administration has announced the complete halt of all funding for Palestinian security forces—a shocking move that reflects a drastic shift in U.S. policy toward the PA, which has long been one of the biggest beneficiaries of American financial aid.
This decision aligns with Trump’s broader policy of freezing foreign aid, but it carries deeper implications. Security assistance has been the backbone of the PA’s security apparatus, which has often been used to serve Israeli interests rather than confronting the real enemy.
With this decision, Abbas finds himself in a difficult position as the security forces he relies on to maintain control over the West Bank now face an uncertain future, threatening the PA’s ability to uphold security and stability.
Palestinian Security Funding at Risk: Abbas Scrambles for Alternatives
The U.S. has historically been one of the largest donors to the Palestinian Authority, providing hundreds of millions of dollars for security training and capacity-building programs over the years.
However, following the latest decision, these programs are now at risk. Some security training initiatives have already been scaled back, and key meetings—such as those scheduled to assess security operations in Jenin refugee camp—have been postponed indefinitely.
In response, Abbas has begun searching for alternative funding sources, as maintaining “sacred” security coordination with Israel requires substantial financial backing. This may push the PA to seek new donors in Europe or the Arab world.
Yet, a major challenge remains: Traditional PA donors, including the European Union and some Gulf states, are losing confidence in Abbas’ ability to manage the Palestinian political scene. This makes securing alternative funding increasingly difficult.
A Defining Moment for the PA: Can Abbas Sustain His Rule?
This decision comes at a highly sensitive moment, as the PA faces mounting internal crises—both politically and economically—amid growing public anger over its repressive policies and its failure to confront Israel’s ongoing aggression against Palestinians.
As a result, cutting U.S. funding could deal a fatal blow to the PA’s security forces, which Abbas relies on to maintain his grip over the West Bank.
Will this decision mark the beginning of the end for the Palestinian Authority’s dominance in the West Bank? Or will Abbas manage to secure new financial backers to sustain his security project? The coming days will reveal much.
