President Bush – tough approach
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U.S. to PA: Pay us back USD 50 million
Americans ask Palestinian Authority to pay back funds received from U.S. in bid to ensure money does not reach Hamas; Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas complies with request, State Department says
WASHINGTON – Making the Palestinians pay: The United States asked the Palestinian Authority to pay back USD 50 million transferred to the PA earlier in order to ensure the money does not reach Hamas once the new Palestinian government is sworn in, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.
According to McCormack, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas complied with the request.
Speaking at a daily briefing, McCormack said the money was initially transferred to the PA in order to finance various projects.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is scheduled to head on a Middle East tour Monday that will include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Gulf countries, made it clear in recent days the Administration is reviewing American assistance to the Palestinian Authority in the wake of Hamas' recent election win.
In practical terms, the U.S. has already decided to curb all investments in infrastructure development projects in Gaza, as well as health and employment ventures. The Americans are expected to continue examining their aid to the Palestinians over the next few weeks before making more decisions on the matter.
The Americans are also looking into ways to continue offering humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians through the United Nations and non-profit organizations while ensuring the money does not end up in the hands of Hamas or is used by the terror group to win sympathy among the Palestinians.
Gaza parliament members forbidden to travel to West Bank
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held a strategic discussion Friday with ministers and heads of the defense establishment on Israel's police toward a Hamas-led PA.
The meeting participants decided not to allow Hamas parliament members living in the Gaza Strip to travel to the West Bank for Saturday's parliament meeting. Therefore, the swearing-in ceremony of the new Palestinian Legislative Council will be aired in Gaza through satellite.
Officials at the Prime Minister's Office referred to the political and security recommendations presented to Olmert at the meeting as "secret" and said that the cabinet would decide whether to accept them on Sunday.
However, it appears that the recommendations involve imposing a partial economic siege on the PA, as well as forming an international front that will operate to prevent the delivery of funds from Iran and radical Islamic organizations.
