US lawmakers warn against Palestinian unity

[Scurrilous]

'Palestinian Authority has chosen alliance with violence, extremism over democratic values that Israel represents,' bipartisan group of legislators says, while State Department skirts questions over whether aid will continue

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4062112,00.html

<snip>

"The new Palestinian unity deal could imperil hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid if it gives a more prominent role to Hamas, legislators in Washington said Thursday.

After Hamas and the Western-backed Fatah party announced their reconciliation agreement on Wednesday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers warned US funding could not flow to a government that includes a group still on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations.

"The Palestinian Authority has chosen an alliance with violence and extremism over the democratic values that Israel represents," a bipartisan group of US lawmakers said on Thursday after a meeting in Tel Aviv with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the powerful Republican chairwoman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and a staunch defender of Israel, said US law required a halt to support for the Palestinian Authority.

"US taxpayer funds should not and must not be used to support those who threaten US security, our interests and our vital ally, Israel," Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement."


Ileana Ros-Lehtinen?

:rofl:

Orlando Bosch, Cuban Exile Militant, Dies at 84

<snip>

"Orlando Bosch, a hero to many in Miami's Cuban exile community and an unrepentant terrorist to others, has died at the age of 84 in Miami after a prolonged fight with illness. Bosch, a fierce anti-Castro militant, had been linked to several violent acts in his life, including the bombing of a Cuban plane and several dynamite bombings in South Florida. Though many within the American intelligence community viewed Bosch as a dangerous terrorist, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and a young Jeb Bush worked tirelessly to have him pardoned of his crimes."

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/04/orlando_bosch_cuban_exile_mili.php


Also:

Bipartisanship at last: U.S. politicians line up to castigate Palestinian unity deal

[idontwantaname]

1. To the Point with Warren Olney

the final 8 min of the show is spent talking with Jerusalem Bureau chief for the Newsweek who recently spent a bit of time with abbas. his perspective and analysis on fatah/hamas, egypt and US influence is worth a listen.


www.kcrw.com/news/programs/tp/tp110427the_united_states_we

[azurnoir]

2. The US reaction is hardly a surprise, infact it is fully expected

and if I can say that from my 'vantage point' in St Paul Mn then I am sure it was not a surprise to Abbas either, I have read the Palestinians thumbed their nose at Israel but IMO that goes for the US as well, Abbas forced Obama to lay his cards on the table last February and he did by vetoing a move that was in line with claimed US policy, and he did this not only for the Palestinians but for the entire Arab world as well, as if there was ever any doubt.

the news week interview with Abbas worth a read

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/24/the-wrath-of-abbas.html

[azurnoir]

3. more info on the congressional delegation visiting with Netanyahu

http://engel.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=24§iontree=6,24&itemid=2765