Call your Senator to sign letter

Deadline: COB Tuesday, June 10th
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Contact Rachel Charles
(202) 639-5203
rcharles@aipac.org Urge Senators to Sign the Cardin-Collins Letter on Palestinian Aid

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) are circulating a bipartisan letter addressed to President Obama in the wake of the recent formation of a Palestinian Authority government backed by Hamas. The Palestinian unity government represents a serious setback to peace efforts. The letter urges the President to impress on President Abbas the need to cease any alliance with Hamas and return to the negotiating table with Israel. It also makes clear that U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority should only be provided when "we have confidence that this new government is in full compliance with restrictions contained in current law."


"I am calling the Senator to urge him/ her to sign the Cardin-Collins letter to the President. The letter outlines how a Hamas backed unity government deeply undermines the cause of peace and calls for a review of aid to the Palestinian Authority."

Background

The formation of a Palestinian Authority unity government backed by Hamas is a disturbing setback for peace. Rather than pursue a peace agreement with his willing Israeli partner, PA President Mahmoud Abbas chose to align with an Islamist terrorist organization that seeks Israel’s destruction and continues to perpetrate terror attacks against Israel. Aid should be suspended to the PA while a thorough review should be conducted of continued U.S. assistance to ensure that U.S. law, which prohibits funds to a Palestinian government in which Hamas participates or has undue influence, is completely followed and implemented.

Talking Points

The United States must ensure that any aid to the unity government remains consistent with existing U.S. law, which stipulates that no funds can be provided to a Palestinian government in which Hamas participates or has undue influence.

Hamas’ role in the unity government is not merely symbolic. Hamas leaders approved of the ministerial slate and now intend to help determine government policy, including the pathway forward to elections.

The new government allows Hamas to participate in the PA even though the Islamist group has not accepted the Quartet’s demands to renounce violence, recognize Israel’s right to
exist, and accept previous agreements.

The United States has consistently declared Hamas a terrorist organization and rejected any attempts to engage Hamas prior to its acceptance of the three criteria. President Clinton first designated Hamas a terrorist organization in 1997, and this policy has been fully supported and strengthened by subsequent U.S. administrations