House wants assurances Palestinians not governed by terrorists
WASHINGTON — Congress hopes to impose new restrictions on U.S.
funds to the
Palestinian Authority.
The House has passed an amendment that would prevent U.S. assistance to
the PA unless the Bush administration certifies that the Palestinian
government was not under the control or influence of what was termed
terrorists.
The amendment, attached to the $34 billion foreign aid bill,
would require that the PA sever links to Hamas or Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade. Both militias appear on the State Department list of terrorist
organizations, according to a report by Middle East Newsline.
Also In This Edition
"We wanted to make it very, very clear that the Fatah government would
continue to receive U.S. taxpayer assistance only if we can be
absolutely certain that our tax dollars will never be used in any way that
threatens Israel," Rep. Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican, said.
Pence said Congress has embraced his initiative to prevent U.S.
assistance from benefiting what he termed Palestinian terrorists. The
amendment was
supported by 390 House members.
Officials said congressional pressure has forced the State Department to
draft a plan to ensure that U.S. funds would not reach Palestinian militias.
The department has sought to relay $86 million to bolster PA security
agencies under Abbas's authority in the West Bank.
"There's been so much talk about lifting the restrictions on aid to the
Palestinians after the collapse in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas has taken
over
that portion of the Palestinian areas," Pence said.
A leading House Republican, Pence said the regime of PA Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas has been composed of "crooks." He said the Fatah government was marked
by "corruption and disappointment and an unwillingness to step forward and
really achieve peace."
"So we need to proceed with caution in any way that we distribute
American dollars there," Pence said. "We need to help those who are hurting,
[and] we need to provide humanitarian assistance where appropriate. But no
dollars [should go] to the Palestinian Authority in any way that could reach
terrorists or threaten Israel."
