US Congress - No aid to the Hamas government

US House urges halt of direct aid to Palestinians - Yahoo! News: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Wednesday urging that direct U.S. aid to the
Palestinian Authority be stopped as long as Hamas, controls the Palastinian government and refuses to recognize Israel or end terrorism.

The nonbinding resolution expressing the sense of Congress was approved 418-1. The Senate passed the measure earlier this month.

'Until Hamas changes course, dismantles its terrorist organization, and agrees to work toward a peaceful settlement with Israel, no taxpayer money should be provided to support the Palestinian government,' said House Majority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican.

As I reported, the House is also pushing binding legislation to halt U.S. aid and withhold U.S. funds to the United Nations equal to the amount the world body provides the Palestinians.J O S H U A P U N D I T: Common sense in Congress, if not in the White House or the State Department

That amounts to $150 million in assistance to the Palestinians, and a further $84 million to the U.N. fund.

Secretary of State Condi Rice, speaking in the Senate yesterday,told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the Bush administration would not turn its back on such humanitarian programs as immunizing children against disease.

"But no money will go to that government," Rice said under questioning by Sen. George Allen (r-VA).

"I don't want a penny of taxpayer money going to Hamas," Allen told Rice.

"Neither do I," she replied.