U.S. aid to Palestine hinges on Hamas

Spokesman Sean McCormack commented after four House Foreign Affairs Committee members, including Chairman Tom Lantos (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to reconsider the plan in light of the recent agreement between Fatah and Hamas to form a national unity government.

Hamas, which controls most of the Palestinian government, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, European countries and Israel. Fatah is led by moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The two groups agreed to form a government after weeks of street fighting left scores dead.

McCormack said the administration is asking the same questions as members of Congress about whether Hamas would benefit from the program.

"Our intention is to move forward with the program," McCormack said. "Whether or not that includes the full $86 million will depend upon the answers to the questions we have and obviously the answers to the questions that the Congress has," he said.

The intent is to assist with training in non-lethal equipment of forces under Abbas' control.

In calling for reconsideration of the plan, the House members said, "This agreement has immensely complicated the search for peace."

They said they were "deeply disappointed" Abbas had committed his Fatah party to forming a government with Hamas without insisting that the group recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept all previous agreements with Israel.

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