Israel Matzav

Congress calls to cut off aid from the 'Palestinian Authority'

In the aftermath of Hamas' reconciliation with Fatah, there are already calls coming from Congress to cut off aid to Fatah's 'Palestinian Authority.' The following statement was issued by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on reports that Abu Mazen’s Fatah faction and Hamas, a Foreign Terrorist Organization, have agreed to form a joint Palestinian Authority (PA) government. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“The reported agreement between Fatah and Hamas means that a Foreign Terrorist Organization which has called for the destruction of Israel will be part of the Palestinian Authority government. U.S. taxpayer funds should not and must not be used to support those who threaten U.S. security, our interests, and our vital ally, Israel.

“According to existing U.S. law, such a hybrid government cannot be a recipient of U.S. taxpayer funds because the law stipulates that the PA government must recognize the Jewish state of Israel’s right to exist, among other things. Therefore, in order to implement existing law, the U.S. must end assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

“By entering into this partnership with Hamas, Abu Mazen’s Palestinian leadership has shown again that it is not a partner for peace. If reports are correct, the PA would then be standing with those who want only death and destruction for Israel.

“The Israeli and Palestinian people are eager for peace, but support for this type of PA government is not the way to get there.”

And then there's this from Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY), the top Democrat on on the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia:

The purported deal, which does not require Hamas to accept Israel’s right to exist, or the binding nature of prior Palestinian commitments, or even to require Hamas to temporarily forgo violence against Israel (as if it were some kind barbaric of addiction, or compulsion), is a recipe for failure, mixed with violence, leading to disaster. It is a ghastly mistake that I fear will be paid for in the lives of innocent Israelis.

Rather than seizing the dynamic of this amazing Arab Spring to simply push for national elections and constitutional reform, the leadership of the Palestinian Authority has once again naively decided to test the trustworthiness of a bloody-handed bunch of terrorist want-to-be theocrats. While this step may be popular among Palestinians, many of whom wish to preserve the fantasy that they can have peace and so-called ‘resistance’ (also known in English as terrorism), the reality is that they can’t.

As in prior cases, the United States will be compelled by both law and decency to withhold any assistance that could fall into the hands or control or even partial control of anyone reporting to, or belonging to a terrorist entity, as is Hamas. And in the current political climate, even assistance that would otherwise have gone to parts of the Palestinian Authority untainted by terrorism may no longer be salvageable.

For months, President Abbas has refused partnership with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in pursuing peace negotiations. It now appears that he is writing off partnership with the United States in helping to govern and develop Palestinian society.

It’s certainly historic leadership. Just not the good kind.”

I'm not sure why Ackerman thinks that deep down Fatah has different goals than Hamas, but apparently he still does.

There are a couple of more statements to be seen as well. Read the whole thing.

Labels: Gary Ackerman, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:46 PM