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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Rice rules out aid to Hamas |
| 2006-01-30 |
| U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday ruled out any American financial aid to a Hamas government in the Palestinian territories and said Washington wants Arab nations and others to cut off money as well. Humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, many of whom are poor and unemployed, is likely on a "case-by-case basis," Rice said. She indicated that the Bush administration would follow through on aid promised to the current, U.S.-backed Palestinian government led by President Mahmoud Abbas. "The United States is not prepared to fund an organization that advocates the destruction of Israel, that advocates violence and that refuses its obligations," under an international framework for eventual Mideast peace, Rice said. Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, won a decisive majority in last week's Palestinian legislative elections. The group, which has political and militant wings, will now take a large role in governing the Palestinians. The makeup of the new government is not clear. The Islamic militants, who carried out dozens of suicide bombings and seek Israel's destruction, have said they oppose peace talks and will not disarm. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas. Hamas' unexpected electoral victory raised questions about the future of the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel, and how the United States can influence such efforts or help impoverished Palestinians. "We're going to review all of our assistance programs, but the bedrock principle here is we can't have funding for an organization that holds those views just because it is in government," Rice said. The top U.S. diplomat spoke to reporters as she flew to London for a Mideast strategy session with European and Russian leaders and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Rice also will meet separately with other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Iran and an upcoming vote on whether to refer the Tehran government to the council over its nuclear program. Rice was more definitive than President Bush and other administration officials have been about the future of U.S. aid now that Palestinians have voted in Hamas. The U.S., Europe and Israel list Hamas as a terrorist organization; various Arab governments have contact with the group. "It is important that Hamas now will have to confront the implications of its covenant if it wishes to govern," Rice said. "That becomes a primary consideration in anything that we do." It is not clear that all European nations or the United Nations would cut off aid, let alone Arab governments that do not recognize Israel. "I just think that anyone who is devoted to trying to bring Middle East peace between two states has an obligation now to make sure that anybody that is going to be supported is going to have that same" goal, Rice said. Some in Israel and in the administration would like to isolate and impoverish the new Hamas leadership in hopes of either forcing the group to moderate its policies or hastening disillusionment with the incoming government among Palestinians. U.S. aid is a small part of the $1.6 billion annual budget of the Palestinian Authority. About $1 billion comes from overseas donors — more than half of that from European nations. The rest is a mix of funds from international donor agencies, Arab and Asian governments, and the U.S., which gave $70 million in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority last year. Separately, the U.S. spent $225 million for humanitarian projects through the U.S. Agency for International Development last year, and gave $88 million for refugee assistance. In the past, USAID money has gone for such projects as sprucing up the Ramallah auditorium where Palestinian leaders hold press conferences. Rice suggested that only the most pressing needs would be considered now. Earlier Sunday, with Hamas' victory discussed on the U.S. talk shows, a Republican senator said cutting U.S. aid to the Hamas-run government could push the Palestinians closer to Iran and create further chaos in the Middle East. Yet governing changes in the region could allow diplomatic efforts by the Bush administration to move "in some quiet ways," said Sen. Chuck Hagel a top member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I think we're moving in the right direction, working with our allies, working with the United Nations, finding ways, with Hamas, to see where they're going to go here in the next few weeks, to see if there's something that we could do to influence that direction," said Hagel, R-Neb. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #8 They can do their downward spiral thing without any money. No money accelerates it, makes it a tighter spiral. Jut gotta watch the EU, though, they will move money through the back door through NGOs, just like Jihadis get money through Islamic charities. If others want to throw their money away, let them. Just do not have the US do it. No more. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-01-30 22:06 |
| #7 It would be better to keep giving them aid. After all, if they had to do things for themselves, and develop a functioning economy and a real education system, they might actually become dangerous. The aid we've given them so far seems to have been very beneficial to us, as it's allowed them to indulge themselves fully in the most mind-softening of all vices - Islam. Give them more aid, more Islam, and let their downward spiral continue. |
| Posted by: revolo 2006-01-30 19:20 |
| #6 Better change the headline. The statement agreed to by the quartet, from the beeb: " 'All members of the future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap.' It said future aid would be reviewed in reference to these demands, but did not threaten to cut it in the short term. The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, James Robbins, said the words were chosen with care. They did not demand a renunciation of violence or immediate recognition of Israel, but a commitment to these things in the future." Condi buckled-no requirement of an immediate cessation of violent attacks against Israel, no insistence that the PA recognize Israel, just a commitment by a yet-non-existent future government of Palestine to do so. Read: green light to attack Israel now, while money from the US flows to PA. This is not compromise-this is cowardice. Shame. |
| Posted by: Jules 2 2006-01-30 17:51 |
| #5 U.S. aid is a small part of the $1.6 billion annual budget of the Palestinian Authority. According to Times of London United States is the biggest single contributor to PA The leading donors are: US $368 million EU $338 million Britain $43 million Italy $40 million Sweden $32 million Germany $27 million Spain $17 million |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-01-30 11:45 |
| #4 Good byline, SG: Let them eat Jihad. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-01-30 10:53 |
| #3 Good job Condi! Just say NO! And continue to say no. It is about time we cut the strings of support to those that want us dead. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-30 10:28 |
| #2 Interesting that Olmert is now (DEBKA says(!)) suspending tax credits to the PA. The timing of the Israeli elections is bad news for Hamas, as Israel's leaders have to posture and sound tough. Any backdoor deal is likely to come too late to pay all those wages over the rest of the winter. |
| Posted by: Jake-the-Peg 2006-01-30 07:21 |
| #1 Ironic? Some Pales are about to be refugees from Pales. And if the Hamas-Fatah Texas Death Match extends to the Leb refugee camps, they would be refugees from refugees. Let them eat jihad! |
| Posted by: Shans Grinetle6721 2006-01-30 05:15 |