WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) led a bipartisan supermajority of 88 Senators in sending a letter to President Barack Obama expressing strong reservations about U.S. relations with the newly formed Palestinian unity government.
“The recent formation of a Palestinian Authority unity government supported by Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that has never publicly accepted the Quartet principles, represents a serious setback to efforts to achieve peace,” the Senators wrote. “By its actions and inaction, Hamas has demonstrated it is not a partner for peace.”
Citing the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 and restrictions contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2014, the Senators reminded the President of the legal prohibition on “foreign assistance to Hamas or any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member or over which Hamas has undue influence.”
In addition to Senators Cardin and Collins, the letter was signed by Senators
Alexander
Ayotte
Barrasso
Begich
Bennet
Blumenthal
Brown
Blunt
Booker
Boozman
Boxer
Burr
Cantwell
Casey
Chambliss
Coats
Coburn
Cochran
Coons
Cornyn
Crapo
Cruz
Donnelly
Durbin
Enzi
Fischer
Flake
Franken
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Hagan
Hatch
Heinrich
Heitkamp
Heller
Hirono
Hoeven
Isakson
Johanns
Tim Johnson
Ron Johnson
King
Kirk
Klobuchar
Landrieu
Lee
Levin
Manchin
Markey
McCain
Merkley
McCaskill
McConnell
Menendez
Mikulski
Moran
Murkowski
Murphy
Murray
Bill Nelson
Portman
Pryor
Reed
Risch
Roberts
Rubio
Schatz
Schumer
Scott
Sessions
Shaheen
Shelby
Stabenow
Tester
Thune
Toomey
Mark Udall
Tom Udall
Vitter
Walsh
Warner
Whitehouse
Warren
Wicker
Wyden
Below is the full text of the letter:
June 11, 2014
Dear Mr. President:
We are appreciative of your Administration’s dedication to achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, the recent formation of a Palestinian Authority unity government supported by Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that has never publicly accepted the Quartet principles, represents a serious setback to efforts to achieve peace. We are gravely concerned that the formation of this government and President Abbas’ renewed effort to upgrade the status of the Palestinians within international organizations will jeopardize direct negotiations with Israel to achieve a two-state solution.
By its actions and inaction, Hamas has demonstrated it is not a partner for peace. Hamas has openly called for Israel’s destruction and last month Hamas leaders again repeated their refusal to meet recognized international demands: recognition of Israel, renunciation of terror, and acceptance of previous Israel-PLO agreements.
Recent events have consequences as to U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority as provided for in the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 and restrictions contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2014, including prohibiting foreign assistance to Hamas or any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member or over which Hamas has undue influence. These troubling developments, including the role played by Hamas in the formation of the government, have undermined Congressional support for U.S. assistance to the Palestinians. Any assistance should only be provided when we have confidence that this new government is in full compliance with the restrictions contained in current law. We urge you to continue to impress on President Abbas the need for him to cease any alliance with terrorist organizations such as Hamas and to return to the negotiating table with Israel.
Sincerely,
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