(Source Article: House votes to choke off aid to Palestine - Associated Press)
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a measure (by a large majority) to cut off financial aid to NGOs working in Palestine, with the exception of some health programs. A U.S. Representative commented that the U.S. needs to make it abundantly clear that terrorist regimes will not be allowed to benefit—directly or indirectly—from U.S. funds.
Opposition to the measure voiced their concerns that such an enactment may cripple peace-keeping and other development in the region.
The House vote coincides with a White House visit from Israel’s new Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. President Bush also announced today that the U.S. would defend Israel from any potential attack, responding to hostile comments by Iranian leadership (see Bush Pledges Support to Israel - CNN)
The U.S. is not alone in cutting off aid to Palestine—Britain and the EU also do not want to support the Hamas regime. As a result, the Gaza director of the U.N Relief and Works Agency said that “the clock is ticking towards a crisis” (see Gaza on Brink of Implosion - The Guardian (UK)).
Are such measures counter-productive to creating stability in the region?
Is there any alternative for Israel when dealing with regimes that do not acknowledge its right to exist?
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2 comments:
The region is not stable. As long as thre is a civil war brewing, between Hamas and Fatah, the region will not be stable. As long as there is an intafada, the region will not be stable.
All US aid will do is allow Hamas to purchase weapons and pay terrorists to increase the instability.
I see.
Do you believe there's any effective (stability inducing) means of dealing with relations in the region at this time?
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