US will work with Palestinian unity government
US will work with Palestinian unity government, Jerusalem Post, Michael Wilner, June 2, 2014
(How expectedly “unexpected.” — DM)
Kerry speaks to Netanyahu by phone; State Department says no plans to cut off aid despite some US lawmakers’ comments to the contrary, says the US “will be judging this government by its actions.”
Psaki said the Obama administration has no intention of cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority, which amounts to roughly $500 million a year– pivotal funding for the cash-strapped organization.
US Secretary of State John Kerry. Photo: REUTERS
WASHINGTON — The United States will work with a new Palestinian Authority that has unified Hamas and Fatah, the State Department said on Monday, hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in the new government.
“Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. “We will continue to evaluate the composition and policies of the new government, and if needed, we will recalibrate our approach.”
Ministers in the new administration, whom Abbas has said would be politically unaffiliated, took the oath of office in a televised ceremony in Ramallah.
Psaki said the Obama administration has no intention of cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority, which amounts to roughly $500 million a year– pivotal funding for the cash-strapped organization.
The ministers in the government “appear to be technocratic,” she said, adding that the US “will be judging this government by its actions.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu by phone moments before Psaki’s announcement.
On Sunday, Netanyahu called on the international community not to “run to recognize” the government which “rests of Hamas,” a terrorist organization as listed by the US, European Union, and Israel.
US financial aid to the Palestinian Authority through 2014 has already been appropriated by the US Congress, but not obligated; the State Department must approve requests for how the funds are spent, and the PA must file those requests.
Funding for 2015 has not yet been drafted, and already, members of the appropriations committees on Capitol Hill are suggesting a cut in aid because of the deal.
“As long as Hamas rejects the Quartet principles and the existence of the State of Israel, United States funding for this unity government is in jeopardy,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, expressing “deeply disappointment” with the development.
“Hamas is no partner for peace, nor a legitimate recipient of aid,” Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. “While the ‘unity government’ hides behind the facade of nonpartisan bureaucrats, it was only born out of support from Hamas – a terrorist organization that continues to call for Israel’s annihilation.”
American Jewish organizations reacted to the announcement in its own unified alignment on Monday, roundly condemning the move.
“The Fatah-Hamas unity government is a marriage involving an unabashed terrorist partner and, therefore, another setback to any prospect for peace,” said David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.
In a statement released by the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC), the group said it was “greatly concerned and disappointed” with the formation of the Fatah-Hamas unity government, adding that, “The embrace of the notorious Islamist terrorist organization is a disturbing setback to peace.”
AIPAC added that US law says that no funds can be transferred to a Palestinian government that includes, or is influenced by, Hamas, and urged Congress to review American aid to the Palestinian Authority.
“The potential benefit of political unification is that it allows the Palestinian president to negotiate with Israel on behalf of all Palestinians,” J Street, a Washington lobby focused on the two-state solution, published in a statement. Echoing the State Department, the J Street statement continued: “the true test of the new Palestinian government should be the policies it follows.”
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WarSclerotic 
June 2, 2014 at 11:42 PM
Shame on the US! Is the Obama administration just ignorant or does it deliberately ignore Article 13 and Article 7 of the Hamas Charter?
Why doesn’t Secretary Kerry ever ask them about Article 13 and Article 7 of the Hamas Charter?
http://www.madisdead.blogspot.co.il/2014/04/off-topic-simple-question-for-catherine.html
A question for Catherine Ashton:
Since Article 13 of the Hamas Charter reads:
“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad”
while article Article 7 of the Hamas Charter reads:
“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him”.
and since Article 7 is taken from Hadith Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 177 and quotes the Prophet Muhammad:
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.”
does Catherine Ashton believe that Hamas will abolish its Charter and renege on Muhammad’s words in the Charter?
June 3, 2014 at 4:42 AM
“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad”
Jihad is the reason the Palestinian question has never been answered…and probably never will.
June 3, 2014 at 5:21 AM
The only answer is to eliminate the jihadists.
June 3, 2014 at 1:07 PM
There lay a task for the USA voters
June 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM
Will not be up to the US, it will be up to Israel. Israel failed by not dealing with Iran years ago, it must not fail dealing with what’s welling up all around it. The terrorist proxy armies building up around Israel must be neutralized. The Barbarians are at the gates and armed to the teeth. Hamas will soon be in charge in the West Bank, Israel then will be surrounded. Not a good situation for future generations of Israel’s.