TMCnet News
U.S. to cut aid to Hamas-led Palestinian government+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)WASHINGTON, April 7_(Kyodo) _ The United States said Friday it will halt $411 million in aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, while at the same time raising its commitment to humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. The halted programs will either be canceled, suspended or the money transferred to humanitarian programs, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. Meanwhile, the State Department said the United States will increase its commitment of basic humanitarian assistance to Palestinians by 57 percent to a total of $245 million, to be administered by the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. The United States has long held that Hamas is a terrorist organization and that it will not provide money to the Palestinian government if it is possible that money could end up in Hamas coffers. Hamas surprisingly and overwhelmingly won a legislative election in January and has drawn criticism from the United States and Europe for its refusal to recognize Israel and disavow terrorism. |