Hamas’ victory prompts U.S. aid cut vote

[DaSangarTalib]

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to halt direct aid to the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas recognizes Israel, BBC reported.

Last month, Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections and is expected to form a new government.

The EU and the U.S., both major donors of aid to the Palestinian Authority, classify Hamas as a “terrorist” organization. They have been threatening to cut aid to the PA unless Hamas gives up anti-Israeli attacks and recognize Israel's right to exist, demands the group rejected as “blackmail”.

Israel has also said it will freeze tax payments and customs duties to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas formed the next government.

Addressing the House of Representatives on Wednesday, House majority leader, the Republican John Boehner, said that the unanimous vote would send a clear message that the United States “will not support terrorist organizations".

Boehner also claimed that Washington was encouraged by the Palestinians' free and fair elections and would continue to back democratic ventures in the region.

"At the same time," he said, "the new government must be aware of both its domestic responsibilities and international obligations."

"Until Hamas changes course - dismantles its terrorist organization, and agrees to work towards a peaceful settlement with Israel - no taxpayer money should be provided to support the Palestinian government."

President Bush is not bound by the resolution but his government has already threatened to cut aid to the Palestinian government.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that "no money will go" to a Hamas-led government.

But she also said that Washington will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, the AFP news agency reported.

A group of House members want to pass a binding legislation to withhold U.S. funds to the United Nations equal to the amount the world body donates to the Palestinians. For 2006, the U.S. has budgeted $150 million in aid to the Palestinians and a further $84 million to the UN fund.

Meanwhile, Israel threatened to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority if the next Prime Minister is linked to Hamas.

"If the Palestinians choose a parliament speaker and prime minister who are affiliated with Hamas, Israel will immediately sever all contact with the Palestinian Authority," Israel’s Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot.

Hamas leaders say they plan to appoint a cabinet in early March, and that the next premier will be a member of the group.

In another development, the Israelis released a Hamas MP from Nablus who was elected in last month's election.

Ahmed Ali Ahmed, also known as Ahmed Hajj Ali, had been held in "administrative detention" for five months without being charged or going to trial. Despite being in prison, Ahmed won the most number of votes of Nablus' six MPs, including five other Hamas members.

A further 14 Palestinians elected in January are currently in Israeli prisons, including uprising leader Marwan Barghouti.