Saudis to Give $92 Million to the Palestinian Authority

US/EU efforts to convince the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority to recognize Israel and disavow suicide bombings are not going very well. Russia has already pledged $10 million to the financially-strapped PA government; Iran has pledged $50 million, and Qatar has pledged $50 million. And now Saudi Arabia has pledged an additional $92 million.

I don’t know whether using financial assistance as a carrot or a stick is more effective. But it’s interesting to note that the US is finding it increasingly difficult to influence the behavior of one of its most important allies in the Middle East.