Congressmen warn Bush on terrorist funding

Two U.S. congressmen are circulating a petition warning the president against allocating U.S. money to a Palestinian government that could be funding terrorists.

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Two U.S. congressmen are circulating a petition warning President Bush against allocating U.S. money to a Palestinian government that could be funding terrorists.

 

On Monday, Reps. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) asked colleagues to sign a letter demanding that no money be handed over to Palestinian recipients “if there is a chance that those resources could be redirected to terrorist organizations such as Hamas.”

 

Last week, Bush announced $80 million in aid to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah security forces and $194 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

 

As a condition of receiving aid, the letter asks that Fatah remove anti-Israel clauses from its constitution. The letter also urges the president to revoke aid to the Palestinians should a new Palestinian unity government include Hamas, unless Hamas renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel and agrees to abide by previous Palestinian agreements with the Jewish state.

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