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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| U.S. Gaza pledge depends on recognition of Israel |
| 2009-03-12 |
| About $900 million pledged by the United States to the Palestinians will be withdrawn if the expected Palestinian Authority coalition government between Fatah and Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist, Western and Israeli diplomats said yesterday. B.O. and Hillary will give in eventually. It'll be "for the children." During her visit to the region last week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas against forming a coalition with Hamas that will not meet the expectations of the Quartet. Clinton told Abbas that Congress will not approve funding of a Palestinian government that does not recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce violence. She added that if those requirements are not met the U.S.-funded program under the supervision of General Keith Dayton training PA security forces would be the first to be axed. Fatah and Hamas are currently engaged in talks intended to reestablish ties between the Palestinian factions that were severed two years ago when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip, routing Fatah-backed PA security forces. Clinton discussed the issue of forming a Palestinian coalition with Fatah representatives, who told her that the new government would consist of non-affiliated officials whose chief task will be to prepare the Palestinian territories for new general elections. She reportedly told the officials she believed holding new elections was secondary to building the bureaucracy of the Palestinian Authority. The Obama administration is adamant in maintaining the previous U.S. presidential administration's position of boycotting Hamas. Two weeks ago Clinton said lifting the boycott would damage attempts to reach peace in the region. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Sounds good. I wonder if anything that Hil said was taped. I also wonder if Haaretz missed any caveats or nuances that would allow her to back away completely. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-03-12 06:44 |
| #1 B.O. and Hillary will give in eventually. It'll be "for the children." Unless they run out of your money first. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-03-12 04:32 |