U.S. Congress' call to ban Hamas slammed by senior Fatah official

[Violet_Crumble]

A senior official in the Fatah party - which has faced stiff opposition from Hamas in local elections in the West Bank and Gaza - rejected on Sunday morning the the U.S. Congress' decision to call for a ban on Hamas in the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections.

In a vote of 397 to 17, Congress resolved that "terrorist organizations such as Hamas should not be permitted to participate in Palestinian elections until such organizations recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, cease incitement, condemn terrorism, and permanently disarm and dismantle their terrorist infrastructure." The American legislature also demanded Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas make a decision to dismantle the "terrorist groups," in reference to armed factions, before the polls are held.

Congress also voted to freeze aid to the PA if Hamas takes part in the elections.


"Abu Mazen will not prevent Hamas participation in the elections," Fares Kadoura told Israel Radio on Sunday morning. "First of all, this would contradict Palestinian law. We don't need to coordinate our internal policies in accordance with what is decided there in Congress. No one can dictate to the Palestinian people their method of government."

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/659217.html

Is there any country whose affairs the US doesn't try to meddle in when it comes to elections?

[curt_b]

1. Voting Nay 16 D 1 R

Abercrombie
Blumenauer
Dingell
Johnson, E. B.
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kucinich
Lee
McDermott
McKinney
Moran (VA)
Obey
Paul
Rahall
Stark
Waters
Watson
Watt

[Behind the Aegis]

3. so sad...

...they voted against..."...terrorist organizations such as Hamas should not be permitted to participate in Palestinian elections until such organizations recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, cease incitement, condemn terrorism, and permanently disarm and dismantle their terrorist infrastructure."

So much for supporting democracy.

[bowens43]

2. Who the fuck do we think we are?

No wonder the United States is the most hated country on the palnet. That honor is richly deserved.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Well, they've tried to meddle in our elections, as well as the Canadians..

Now it's the turn for the Palestinians. I'm glad the list of the 17 smart members of Congress was posted to show that there still are politicians in the US with some morals, and who can see through the incredibly ridiculous wording of that resolution...

Violet....

[Behind the Aegis]

5. There are reasons...

...but withholding funds from terrorists would not be one (well, it would be for some).

[bowens43]

6. We have no right to meddle in another countries elections.

There is terrorism on both sides yet we support fund only one.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Wrong. n/t

[barb162]

11. The USA gives a few hundred million to the Palestinians annually

the last time I looked. For that amount of money, we certainly do have the right to make our opinion known. Do you think the US should keep giving money to groups that basically want to continue "war" and commit terrorist acts against civilians of another country.

[GatoLover]

13. Not only do we give millions to the Palestinian Authority

we give billions a year in aid to Egypt as a reward for signing the 1979 peace treaty. Supporting only one side -- hah! :banghead:

[eyl]

9. Does that indictment

also go for the EU, who have threatened to cutt off aid in the case of an Hamas win?

[Coastie for Truth]

8. This is the silly season in Congress

with DeLay under indictment and Hastert dumbfounded--

1

2.

and there's a lot more.

[barb162]

10. Cutting aid is meddling? Then giving aid must be meddling

[Violet_Crumble]

14. Calling for bans on parties in other countries elections is meddling...

And that's what Congress did, and it definately is meddling by any definition of the word...

The very first part of the article I posted clarifies this:

"A senior official in the Fatah party - which has faced stiff opposition from Hamas in local elections in the West Bank and Gaza - rejected on Sunday morning the the U.S. Congress' decision to call for a ban on Hamas in the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections."


Violet...

[barb162]

17. BTW, doesn't Australia have a Hamas ban?

Isn't Australia meddling? And why is Australia meddling in Palestinian affairs again? Yours: "Calling for bans on parties in other countries elections is meddling...
And that's what (Ausralia) did, and it definately (sic) is meddling by any definition of the word..."





Hamas is on the US list of designated foreign terror groups so if you want to call it meddling, that's just fine and dandy with me. Congress, at least 97% of it, had the right vote.

It is in the US and world interest, as far as I am concerned, not to see Hamas get in power.

[Violet_Crumble]

19. No, Australia doesn't...

Not at all sure why Australia was suddenly brought into this discussion, as it had nothing to do with what I was saying in the post you replied to...

Violet...

[barb162]

12. about 2% of Congress have their heads up their rear on this one

It should have been 414 to 0 (too bad; I really like some of these people but even some of the best people make mistakes every so often)

[Violet_Crumble]

15. Nah, 98% do...

Meddling in democratic elections elsewhere in the world totally sucks, imo, and this ridiculous thing should never have seen the light of day...

Violet...

[barb162]

16. no, 2% screwed up on the vote

[Violet_Crumble]

18. Nope. 98% screwed up on the vote...

n/t