WASHINGTON — Congress has passed legislation that bans U.S. talks
with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
The bill, passed by the House and Senate, outlaws talks by any U.S.
administration with Hamas or ministries headed by operatives of the Islamic
movement. The legislation forbids the administration from contacting or
aiding the Hamas-led PA until the movement renounced what was termed
terrorism and recognized Israel.
The legislation must be signed by President George Bush to become law.
Officials said Bush would not veto the bill.
In contrast, the bill allows the administration to relay aid to PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, head of the rival Fatah movement, Middle East Newsline reported. The United States
could also continue to fund humanitarian programs in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
The bill, regarded as leading the legislative agenda of the
American-Israel Public
Affairs Committee, was co-sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Tom
Lantos in the House. In the Senate, the chief co-sponsors were Sen. Joseph
Biden and Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Under the legislation, U.S. officials could not meet Hamas or members of
other Palestinian organizations deemed by the State Department as terrorist.
Hamas members would also be denied visas to enter the United States.
Palestinian sources, however, maintained that U.S. diplomats have been
meeting Hamas representatives in such countries as Jordan and France. The
sources said European Union members have arranged meetings between Hamas and
American diplomats.
The Palestinian news agency Maan, quoting a senior PA official, said
members of the U.S. Democratic Party met Hamas ministers in Europe. The
official said additional meetings between U.S. and Hamas officials were
expected imminently.
"Additional meetings will be held in the coming days between Hamas
delegations and political officials in Europe and the United States," the
official was quoted as saying.
