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Hamas Deal Last Straw for Congress on U.S. Aid to Palestinians
(Al-Monitor) Julian Pecquet - Wednesday's announcement of a reconciliation between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah triggered an instant call for retaliation on Capitol Hill. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs panel on the Middle East and authored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, called for an immediate suspension of U.S. aid to the PA. The 2006 law prohibits support for a "Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority." "The Administration must halt aid to the Palestinian Authority and condition any future assistance as leverage to force Abu Mazen [Abbas] to abandon this reconciliation with Hamas and to implement real reforms within the PA," Ros-Lehtinen said. "U.S. law is clear on the prohibition of U.S. assistance to a unity Palestinian government that includes Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and President Obama must not allow one cent of American taxpayer money to help fund this terrorist group." Her Democratic counterpart on the subcommittee, Ted Deutch of Florida, said, "Be certain that the Palestinian Authority will face significant consequences if a unity government is formed that includes terrorist members of Hamas."