The legislation has been supported by House committee leadership and was
meant to ensure that these countries demonstrate their commitment to CI
cooperation, Middle East Newsline reported. The bill would also block aid to Egypt, Washington's second
largest recipient, should the Muslim Brotherhood take over power of the
government.
Under the bill, Washington would be forced to stop its $550 million in
aid requested for fiscal 2012 should the PA appoint members of Hamas to any
ministry or policy position. In April, Hamas and the ruling Fatah
movement approved a reconciliation accord that would include the
establishment of a so-called national unity government.
Egypt would also have to demonstrate cooperation with both Israel and
the United States in CI. The bill would require the administration of
President Barack Obama to certify that Cairo was stopping arms and other
smuggling from the Sinai Peninsula to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
U.S. aid to Lebanon would also be halted if any Hizbullah member was
appointed to a policy position in the new government of Prime Minister Nijab
Mikati. Congressional sources said the requirements were meant to ensure
that Washington would not fund any entity that supports or tolerates
movements deemed terrorist.
The House has already drafted a foreign operations bill that called for
$40 billion for fiscal 2012. The figure was $11 billion less than that
requested by the administration.
"Regrettably, I get the sense that what I already consider to be a bad
bill is going to get much worse in this markup and on the floor," Rep.
Howard Berman, ranking member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, said on
July 20. "That will simply ensure that this is a one-house bill."
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