Bush lets Hamas-led PA keep U.S. office open

[Scurrilous]

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"Citing the goal of a lasting Middle East peace, U.S. President George W. Bush waived legislative restrictions and allowed the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority to keep its Washington office open for at least six months.

The United States has designated Hamas a terrorist organization, and Hamas' victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections in January resulted in a no-contact policy with the Palestinian Cabinet and its ministries.

Representation of the Palestinian Authority in Washington, however, remains a useful channel of communication to Mahmoud Abbas, who remains committed to the peace process and is still chairman of the authority, White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said Thursday."

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"If Bush had not waived restrictions in the 1987 anti-terrorism law, the office in Washington would have been barred from operating and U.S. banks would have been required to block access to Palestinian Authority money, Lisaius said."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/705671.html