Palestinian Authority officials claim that the United States threatened PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas with ending financial aid if he did not agree to direct negotiations with Israel. According to Congressional Research Service, the PA has received direct and indirect assistance from the United States through USAID's West Bank and Gaza programs and other sources amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2009. The United States is the largest donor country to UNRWA - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians, having donated $268 million in 2009.