Israel Matzav

88 Senators slam 'Palestinian unity' government

88 United States Senators have signed a(n obviously bipartisan) letter to President Obama slamming the 'Palestinian unity government' in the opening salvo of what might become a war in Washington over continued US aid to the 'Palestinians.'

88 senators from across party lines signed the letter sent to the White House, written by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME), which warns the new PA unity effort might "jeopardize direct negotiations with Israel to achieve a two-state solution."

"The recent formation of a Palestinian Authority unity government supported by Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that has never publicly accepted the Quartet principles, represents a serious setback to efforts to achieve peace," the senators wrote.

Citing recent appropriations law, which calls for an end to assistance to the PA should Hamas share power in the government or exert "undue influence" over its government, the Senate said the law is clear and warned the president that the chamber would reconsider future aid.

"Any assistance should only be provided when we have confidence that this new government is in full compliance with the restrictions contained in current law," the letter reads.

The State Department considers the current government an interim body, occupied by technocrats unaffiliated with either Palestinian party. Given those circumstances, the Obama administration plans on monitoring the political developments while continuing aid, officials say.

With the midterm elections coming up, and Obama already a lame duck, I hope and suspect that he's going to be hard-pressed to keep even the Democrats in line. Not to mention that by January, both houses of Congress could be controlled by the Republicans. Heh.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, United States Senate, US foreign aid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:14 PM