The Journal Jewish Insider published, through his correspondent for the US Congress, documents revealing that US President Donald Trump has canceled a subsidy from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This subsidy supported a program promoting scientific cooperation between Israel and certain Arab countries, including Tunisia, a program known in academic circles under the name of “science diplomacy”.
The newspaper reported documents from members of the US Congress, indicating that the program canceled by Trump included more than 40 active subsidies allowing Israelis and Arabs to cooperate in areas such as agriculture and public health. However, this program could only be implemented in the field with an agreement between an Israeli person and one of the Arab countries concerned, of which Tunisia, and its objective was to promote the normalization of relations.
According to data on expired programs and subsidies shared by whistleblowers with the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and published by Punchbowl News, the Trump administration has canceled more than $ 32 million as part of the Merc subsidy program.
The Merc program dates back to 1979, when created by Congress to help strengthen Israeli-Egyptian relations after the David camp agreements. The program was then extended to include Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza. Its general objective is to “strengthen scientific research and exchange, capacity development and development cooperation between Israel and its regional neighbors, in order to support local solutions to common regional challenges and to promote a global and lasting peace in the Middle East”.
At least $ 58 million was canceled as part of the Partnership Program for Peace in the Middle East (MEPP) for programs including Israeli-Palestinian cooperation on issues such as nursing, mental health, technology, sports for young people and other areas.
At least a billion dollars of humanitarian aid and financing for the development in the West Bank and Gaza were affected by the closure of the USAID, as well as $ 380 million in various forms of aid in Lebanon; $ 550 million mainly for food, medical care, sanitation and other essential aids in Syria; $ 183 million for programs in Yemen; And about a billion dollars for programs including education, health and other forms of help in Jordan.
After a meeting with Peter Marocco, Acting Director of the USAID, the Senate Democrats declared in a joint press release that Moroccoco had not provided “thoughtful measures or calendars” nor shown an interest in the priorities of American national security, including the health and safety of the Americans, or demonstrated proofs of fraud and waste.
The Democrats added: “What is happening under the direction of Mr. Marocco is not a reform, but a violation of the law which makes our country less safe, affects our values, creates opportunities for our adversaries and abandons partnerships that have lasted for decades”.
The Middle East Regional Cooperation Program (Merc), also known by the academic name of “science diplomacy”, aimed to promote cooperation in research and development between Israel and its regional neighbors, on the pretext of supporting the achievement of lasting and global peace in the Middle East.
It is funded in the context of aid to strengthen scientific cooperation, technological development and capacity building between Israel and the eligible countries/territories in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The countries concerned include: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Emirates, West Bank and Gaza.
He aimed in particular to support applied research contributing to regional development, strengthening the scientific and technological capacities of institutions and young researchers and leaders in the region, promoting direct cooperation between Israel and the countries of the region, and establishing solid professional relations beyond the duration of projects.
Although the program seeks to promote “regional cooperation”, it is actually used as a tool for normalizing relations with Israel under the guise of scientific cooperation and research. From an Israeli point of view, USAID’s judgment makes it matter the process of standardization with the Arab countries.
