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Defying Bush, House backs limits on Palestinian aid
 The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed legislation on Tuesday to impose broad restrictions on US aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, defying President George Bush in the midst of high-profile Middle East talks. The House voted 361-37 for the bill that backers said was needed to keep any US funds from supporting Hamas, a militant group pledged to the destruction of Israel and deemed a terrorist organisation by Washington. The vote came during Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's first trip to Washington, where a topic was expected to be how to ease the Palestinians' humanitarian crisis while isolating the Hamas controlling the Palestinian government. The Bush administration contends this bill would tie its hands in that effort. The administration has cut off direct aid to the Hamas-led government, but the bill would put into law more sweeping bans. Posted by: Fred 2006-05-24 |
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