Retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters said Wednesday it is "stunning" that former President Obama would give the Palestinian Authority $221 million right before he left office while the Palestinians "reject peace."
Peters spoke with Fox News anchor Shannon Bream and discussed Obama's attitude toward Israel.
"I would ask the former president, 'How does it advance peace in the Middle East to reward the Palestinians for rejecting peace?'" Peters said. "This is stunning to me and you know President Obama has also had his alternative facts as it were."
Peters said that Obama has always been anti-Israel and criticized the former president for overlooking corruption in the Palestinian Authority.
The "little guy" will never see the $221 million in the West Bank or elsewhere, Peters said. He then asked a rhetorical question about the Obama administration and whether it ever raised the issue about the Palestinian Muslim majority driving out Palestinian Christians from their homeland.
"I feel the American people never realized just how doctrinaire hard-left ideologically he was," Peters said.
Bream said the note that the Obama administration sent to Congress about the funds explained that they were going to "humanitarian aid in the West Bank in Gaza, to support political insecurity reforms, to help prepare for good governance, and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state."
"Humanitarian aid is a synonym in the Middle East for slush fund," Peters said. "When it comes to good governance, training and good governance, what more training do you need? Good governance is pretty straight forward. You don't steal from the national treasury. You don't support terrorism, and you take care of people and you make peace."
The State Department announced on Tuesday that it is reviewing the last-minute decision by former Secretary of State John Kerry to provide the $221 million, the Associated Press reported.
The department said Tuesday it would look at the payment and might make adjustments to ensure it comports with the Trump administration's priorities.
Kerry formally notified Congress that State would release the money Friday morning, just hours before President Donald Trump took the oath of office.
Congress initially had approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers–Ed Royce of California, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee–had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Congressional holds generally are respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated.