US Congress prepares hearings to reconsider Palestinian aid
“I don’t believe legislation is necessary,” Engel said, noting that existing legislation triggers a cut in aid. “That’s law.”
“Somehow the Palestinian Authority seems to have this attitude that we are somehow obligated to keep them afloat,” he added. “Surely he [Abbas] can’t think that we can just disregard something that’s so basic and fundamental to our policy.”
That fundamental requirement to continue receiving aid is the recognition of Israel – a move that Hamas has refused to take, and which Hamas officials have given the US no indication that they are preparing for.
Hamas’s charter calls for the elimination of the Zionist state, and for the killing of Jews worldwide.
Existing appropriations law says that any power- sharing government with Hamas requires the organization to respect existing agreements between Israel and the PLO , renounce…