President George W. Bush on Wednesday approved $20 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority to help pay its Israeli utility bills after key lawmakers objected to plans to use the money for presidential elections in January and to pay Palestinian salaries. Bush's decision to provide the money breaks with long-standing restrictions on direct U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority and is part of what the White House called a renewed push for peace following the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. "We're sending a message with this financial assistance that we want to help as they move forward on elections and as they move forward on putting institutions in place for a viable state to emerge," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
