U.S.: PA may lose aid if Hamas runs in elections

<snip>

"The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a resolution that conditioned future financial aid to the Palestinian Authority on the exclusion of Hamas from the upcoming parliamentary elections next month.

According to the resolution, any Hamas participation in the government of the PA "will potentially undermine the ability of the United States to have a constructive relationship with or provide further assistance to the Palestinian Authority."

In the resolution, passed on a 397-17 vote, the House also urged PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to declare before the election that he intends to dismantle terrorist organizations.

The House resolution, which has more than 150 sponsors, says the participation of Hamas in the PA government "will inevitably raise serious questions for the United States about the commitment of the Palestinian Authority and its leadership to making peace with Israel."


link

Democracy's just grand, 'cept when the right-wing fundie loonies win. It's as true in Iran -- or America -- as it is in Palestine.

Or do we only favor those we favor?

PS Our US revolutionaries were violent radicals.

:)

Puce? Dun?

no worries, just export Diebold :sarcasm:

by limiting participation. While I agree that Hamas is a danger to peace, excluding them from the government is probably a greater danger. Like Bin Laden's group in Afghanistan during the era of the Afghan-Taliban, the Hamas is probably the best armed group in Palestine.

16 of the 17 were Democrats?

WTF??


Abercrombie
Blumenauer
Dingell
Johnson, E. B.
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kucinich
Lee
McDermott
McKinney
Moran (VA)
Obey
Paul (Republican)
Rahall
Stark
Waters
Watson
Watt

Hamas Celebrates Landslide Election Win
Staff and agencies
16 December, 2005

By ALI DARAGHMEH, 1 hour, 23 minutes ago

NABLUS, West Bank - Hamas supporters on Friday celebrated a landslide election victory in major West Bank towns, the strongest sign yet of the Islamic militant group‘s growing political appeal ahead of Jan. 25 parliamentary elections.

Israel responded with concern, saying a Palestinian government dominated by Hamas — which calls for Israel‘s destruction and has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks — would not be a partner for peace.

The results stunned officials from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas‘ Fatah Party, whose internal disarray developed into a split this week when a group of young-guard leaders broke away.

<snip>

"It is totally unacceptable and intolerable that when they have elections in the Palestinian Authority, we will have to pay the price in casualties because of the competition between various groups," said Raanan Gissin, adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon .


More:
http://www.leadingthecharge.com/stories/news-00112900.html

Palestinian terrorism is a reaction to the injustice done by Israel. When Palestinian land is stolen, when Palestinians are murdered, when Palestinian houses are destroyed and their families left homeless, EXPECT Palestinians to fight back.

Oh, and perish the thought of representation of the people! :eyes:

I seem to recall reading that phrase a lot. Did the U.S. punish Ireland or the U.K. for permitting this?

are trying to stop us from participating! Jeez...we are so dumb. Why can't we just stop the grandstanding and let the process go forward? If anything, a political stake could reduce those very things about Hamas that we are so concerned about.