The Islamic Resistance Movement known as Hamas, won a decisive
majority in Palestinian legislative elections. The group, which has political and militant
wings, will now take a large role in governing the Palestinians. The makeup of the new
government is not clear.
The Islamic militants, who carried out dozens of suicide bombings and seek Israel's
destruction, have said they oppose peace talks and will not disarm. Israel refuses to deal
with Hamas.
Hamas' unexpected electoral victory raised questions about the future of the peace process
between the Palestinians and Israel, and how the United States can influence such efforts
or help impoverished Palestinians.
The U.S., Europe and Israel list Hamas as a terrorist organization; various Arab
governments have contact with the group.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet separately with other permanent members of
the U.N. Security Council to discuss Iran and an upcoming vote on whether to refer the
Tehran government to the council over its nuclear program.
Rice was more definitive than President Bush and other administration officials have been
about the future of U.S. aid now that Palestinians have voted in Hamas. "It is
important that Hamas now will have to confront the implications of its covenant if it
wishes to govern," Rice said. "That becomes a primary consideration in anything
that we do."
It is not clear that all European nations or the United Nations would cut off aid, let
alone Arab governments that do not recognize Israel. "I just think that anyone who is
devoted to trying to bring Middle East peace between two states has an obligation now to
make sure that anybody that is going to be supported is going to have that same"
goal, Rice said.
Some in Israel and in the administration would like to isolate and impoverish the new
Hamas leadership in hopes of either forcing the group to moderate its policies or
hastening disillusionment with the incoming government among Palestinians.
U.S. aid is a small part of the $1.6 billion annual budget of the Palestinian Authority.
About $1 billion comes from overseas donors _ more than half of that from European
nations. The rest is a mix of funds from international donor agencies, Arab and Asian
governments, and the U.S., which gave $70 million in direct aid to the Palestinian
Authority last year.
Separately, the U.S. spent $225 million for humanitarian projects through the U.S. Agency
for International Development last year, and gave $88 million for refugee assistance.
In the past, USAID money has gone for such projects as sprucing up the Ramallah auditorium
where Palestinian leaders hold press conferences.
Rice suggested that only the most pressing needs would be considered now.
Some say cutting U.S. aid to the Hamas-run government could push the Palestinians closer
to Iran and create further chaos in the Middle East.
Yet governing changes in the region could allow diplomatic efforts by the Bush
administration to move "in some quiet ways," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, a top member
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"I think we're moving in the right direction, working with our allies, working with
the United Nations, finding ways, with Hamas, to see where they're going to go here in the
next few weeks, to see if there's something that we could do to influence that
direction," said Hagel, R-Neb.
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