For the past several years the Palestinian “state” has been divided between two warring factions, with Fatah controlling the West Bank and Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip on either side of Israel. Now Hamas and Fatah have reached an agreement and are setting out to form a unity government. While some may see this as a positive development; perhaps foreshadowing a moderation of Hamas, this is not the reality of the situation. As a matter of fact, Hamas was quick to condemn the United States for serving justice to Osama Bin Laden.
Currently, the United States is giving substantial financial aid to the Fatah controlled Palestinian Authority, however, now that this new unity government has been formed, the question arises—should we be giving money to a government that includes Hamas?
Israel has laid down the gauntlet stating that the Palestinian Authority cannot attach itself to Hamas and still have peace. This most recent Hamas-Fatah unity effort is only further evidence that the Palestinian government is not interested in living side by side with Israel. It also calls into question whether or not the Palestinians are ready to have their own state.
Not only are the Palestinians not ready to have their own state, but also the United States should refrain from giving them anymore money. Firstly, there is a moral component. Hamas has killed innocent men, women, and children in the name of an ideology that is antithetical to what America is all about. Secondly, we simply cannot afford to throw away perfectly good money after a state that is clearly failing. Some have implied that the poorer Palestinians will starve without our aid. On that point, we should seriously question whether or not the humanitarian aid that we give Palestine, or many other countries for that matter, is actually going to the people who are in need of sustenance. I am sure that there are many private humanitarian organizations who would love to help the poorest Palestinians. If only Hamas would stop making life so difficult for everyone.
With this in mind, a group of twenty-seven senators have sent a letter to President Obama asking him to consider freezing funding for any Hamas-Fatah government until they agree to renounce terrorism and recognize Israel, something that Hamas does not seem likely to do. The letter was originally circulated by Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Casey (D-PA). There is a bipartisan outcry on this issue; funding should be cut for this Palestinian unity government.
