U.S. Congressman: Palestinians must return to peace talks or suffer possible divestment

[Jefferson23]

U.S. State Department waits for Palestinians' 'official response' to Quartet proposal; U.S. Congress members suggest reevaluation of U.S. financial assistance to Palestinian Authority.

By Natasha Mozgovaya


A U.S. Congressmen said Monday that the Palestinians should think twice about how much aid they will get from fellow UN members, reverse course and get back to the negotiation table.

Speaking at a gathering of Congressmen and leaders of Jewish organizations outside the UN headquarters in New York, Rep. Gary Ackerman, member of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, stressed that "There may need to be a total cutoff of all aid to the Palestinians for pursuing this course of action which is very dangerous and ill advised."

"If they’re willing to consider putting their future in the hands of the United Nations, perhaps they should think about how much aid their friends at the United Nations will provide to accompany whatever meaningless, one-sided UN resolution they might pass," said Ackerman.

"They should think twice, reverse course and get back to the negotiating table where Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu awaits them,” he concluded.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-congressman-palestinians-must-return-to-peace-talks-or-suffer-possible-divestment-1.386872

[maxsolomon]

1. i'm really hoping the rest of the planet punches us in the nose over this

when Obama has to use our UN veto over this, we'll look like exactly what we are.

[Jefferson23]

2. I hope not, because the punch usually ends up landing on the innocent.

But I think I get your point overall.

[aranthus]

5. Because of one Rep. mouthing off? I don't think so. n/t

[maxsolomon]

7. No, because we oppose this move at the UN by the Palestinians

and will probably block it using our Security Council veto.

[Purveyor]

3. I'm certain that Iran, Syria, et.al will be more than willing to pick up any void made

by a cutoff of US funding.

[aranthus]

4. We aren't going to divest from Palestine.

One Congressional Rep. blowing smoke doesn't make a policy. It's not even a credible threat at this point.

[Violet_Crumble]

6. It seems to be a bit more than one Congresscritter...

From the article: 'Congresswoman Nita Lowey called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' actions a counter-productive publicity stunt, saying he is not interested in peace. "They have not been forced into this position, and the circumstances are not beyond their control. They have chosen to discontinue negotiations with Israel and pursue a counter-productive publicity stunt." she said.

"Abu Mazen’s speech made clear he’s not interested in peace. Peacemakers are not obstinate, cynical, incendiary, and inflammatory. Peacemakers take constructive – not destructive – actions toward the goal of peace."

Lowey suggested Abbas' actions warrant a strong U.S. response. "His action cross a line and should lead to a reevaluation of U.S. assistance for the Palestinian Authority," she said.'

And then there's this: 'Speaking at a hearing of the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs on the future of aid to the Palestinians, Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said that, 'By providing the Palestinians with 2.5 billion dollars over the last five years, the U.S. has only rewarded and reinforced their bad behaviour… Palestinian leaders are not going to make the tough decisions and change their ways unless compelled to.'

'If progress is to be made, the administration must stop looking for ways to circumvent requirements that the PA must meet … before they can receive U.S. aid,' she said.'

<snip>

Rep. Steve Chabot, chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, was even blunter: 'If the Palestinians continue on their current path, the question before this Congress will not be what portion of our aid will be cut, but rather what portion will remain.'

<snip

Rep. Howard Berman, a long-serving Democrat and former chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said: 'Congress has been very generous in its support of the Palestinian Authority's worthy efforts to build institutions and the economy in the West Bank... Therefore, I believe it is appropriate to point out that should the Palestinians pursue their unilateralist course, the hundreds of millions of dollars in annual assistance that we have given them in recent years, will likely be terminated. And that could well result in the collapse of the Palestinian Authority.'

On Monday, four prominent Democrats also introduced a bill in the House that would 'prohibit Foreign Military Financing program assistance to countries that vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of a negotiated border agreement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.'

http://www.globalissues.org/news/2011/09/14/11178