Israel Matzav

An immoral choice

Claiming that the 'good' terrorists of the PLO are in charge anyway, US Secretary of State John FN Kerry vowed to work with the newly declared Hamas-Fatah unity government.

"Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. "We will continue to evaluate the composition and policies of the new government, and if needed, we will recalibrate our approach."

Ministers in the new administration, whom Abbas has said would be politically unaffiliated, took the oath of office in a televised ceremony in Ramallah.

Psaki said the Obama administration has no intention of cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority, which amounts to roughly $500 million a year-- pivotal funding for the cash-strapped organization.

The ministers in the government "appear to be technocratic," she said, adding that the US "will be judging this government by its actions."

US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu by phone moments before Psaki's announcement.


...


US financial aid to the Palestinian Authority through 2014 has already been appropriated by the US Congress, but not obligated; the State Department must approve requests for how the funds are spent, and the PA must file those requests.

Funding for 2015 has not yet been drafted, and already, members of the appropriations committees on Capitol Hill are suggesting a cut in aid because of the deal.

Knesset Member and Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon called recognition of and aid to the new 'government' a moral dilemma.

"You cannot play a game with this, the same way you cannot hide the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organization," Danon said. "You look at the wording of the law, it says its not a Hamas appointment but the involvement of Hamas. And its a moral decision today that the administration has to make, whether they believe the unity government is bad and whether they will follow the law."

I would say that the choice that the Obama-Kerry administration made today was an immoral one, because it brings another terror organization in out of the cold. Danon seems to agree.

Danon said the Palestinian Authority would not collapse if the US cut aid, as the administration has suggested; they have other sources of funding, the minister said. But "it will make it harder for them," he added.

"Very clearly," Danon added, appropriations law from the US Congress stipulates that, "if there is a unity government with Hamas, no funding shall be transferred to the PA." Danon also took meetings at the Pentagon during his visit to Washington.

It sounds like the cow has fled the barn for 2014, but with the 2015 budget and midterm elections coming up, I doubt Congress will appropriate money for these creeps for next year.

Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take until Mr. Hamdullah gets invited to Washington?  I'd say invitation goes out November 5 and carries a date in early December.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Danny Danon, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, Jen Psaki, John Kerry, Rami Hamdullah, US foreign aid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:15 PM