U.S. House of Representatives votes to tighten sanctions on PA

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Last update - 19:33 23/05/2006


U.S. House of Representatives votes to tighten sanctions on PA

By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspendent and Agencies

WASHINGTON - The House of Repesentatives voted Tuesday to further choke off the flow of U.S. aid to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority, drawing the displeasure of the Bush administration which says the legislation goes too far, and dividing the pro-Israel lobbying community.

The measure, which passed easily with 361 votes in favor and 37 opposed, cuts off aid to nongovernmental groups working in the West Bank and Gaza except for health programs, denies visas to members of the Palestinian Authority, bans contacts with Hamas because of its classification as a terrorist organization and limits the president's authority to waive the aid bans.

"The United States must make it ambiguously clear that we will not support such a terrorist regime, that we will not directly or indirectly allow American taxpayer funds to be used to perpetuate the leadership of an Islamic jihadist group," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a chief sponsor of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.


The vote comes as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets President George W. Bush at the White House to discuss Israel's plans to impose a West Bank settlement on the Palestinians. Olmert addresses a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/719050.html