Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States intends to fund the new Hamas-Fatah coalition in the Palestinian Authority despite rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

The administration of President Barack Obama ruled out any reduction or suspension of U.S. assistance to the new PA government amid Hamas rocket strikes on Israel.

Officials said the administration would not hold the PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas responsible for Hamas or other operations from the Gaza Strip.

“President Abbas’ ability to impact these type of attacks is really severely limited at this point in time,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

In a briefing on June 11, Ms. Psaki acknowledged that Hamas remained in control of the Gaza Strip despite the new “unity government”. She said Washington would be satisfied with Abbas’ condemnation of the rocket attacks on Israel.

“We think he should do everything possible to prevent them from happening and to call for and provoke unity among these groups,” Ms. Psaki said. “But we understand at this point in time there’s very little that he can do to prevent them.”

The United States provides more than $500 million a year to the PA. Much of the aid has been allocated to PA security forces, expected to coordinate with Hamas.

Ms. Psaki said the 79-year-old Abbas has maintained PA security
coordination with Israel. She suggested that Washington would not make
further demands from the PA.

“We’re continuing assistance,” Ms. Psaki said. “But we’ll be watching
closely and if something changes, we’ll act accordingly.”

Congress has expressed concern over the Hamas-Fatah coalition. On June
12, 88 senators, citing the U.S. designation of Hamas as a terrorist group,
signed a letter that called the new PA government a “serious setback to
efforts to achieve peace.”

“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 letter, sponsored by Senators Ben Cardin
and Susan Collins, said. “By its actions and inaction, Hamas has
demonstrated it is not a partner for peace.”

In her briefing, Ms. Psaki did not dispute a scenario in which Hamas and
its allies would continue firing missiles and rockets into Israel while
benefiting from participation in the U.S.-financed PA. The spokeswoman
reiterated that Hamas has not contributed members to the new PA Cabinet.

“We made a decision as the United States government that our assistance
to the Palestinian Authority is important to the United States,” Ms. Psaki
said. “And so that’s why it [U.S. aid] is continuing.”

  Hamas-Fatah coalition, Jen Psaki, Mahmoud Abbas, U.S. funds new Palestinian ‘unity government’ despite new rocket strikes on Israel