Washington, DC —
Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today issued the following joint statement after passage of a Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 79) they introduced expressing the sense of Congress that no U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian Authority if a ruling majority party within the Palestinian Parliament maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel:
"I'm pleased the Senate unanimously passed this legislation today to send a clear message to Hamas that America will not do business with a government that calls for the annihilation of Israel," Thune said. "Until Hamas renounces terrorism and accepts that it must work peacefully with Israel, the Palestinian government should not see a single dime of American taxpayer money.
"With democracy comes responsibility. Hamas must decide if they are ready to change course on their militant past and govern their people peacefully and responsibly. Until then, our message is clear: America does not and will not support you."
"This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that, in order to merit U.S. support, a Palestinian government must renounce violence and must commit to previous agreements and a process for seeking a negotiated peace with Israel," Lieberman said. "Democratic choice has consequences. The leaders of Hamas must understand that their actions have consequences, not only regarding access to U.S. funding, but regarding the future of the Palestinian people and the hopes of people of good will around the globe for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East."
This resolution affirms the intent of the statement made by the Quartet, which is a group of representatives from the United States, European Union, the United Nations, and Russia that shapes international policy toward resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that the new Palestinian government must be committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, the acceptance of prior agreements and a process seeking a negotiated peace with Israel.
"I'm pleased the Senate unanimously passed this legislation today to send a clear message to Hamas that America will not do business with a government that calls for the annihilation of Israel," Thune said. "Until Hamas renounces terrorism and accepts that it must work peacefully with Israel, the Palestinian government should not see a single dime of American taxpayer money.
"With democracy comes responsibility. Hamas must decide if they are ready to change course on their militant past and govern their people peacefully and responsibly. Until then, our message is clear: America does not and will not support you."
"This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that, in order to merit U.S. support, a Palestinian government must renounce violence and must commit to previous agreements and a process for seeking a negotiated peace with Israel," Lieberman said. "Democratic choice has consequences. The leaders of Hamas must understand that their actions have consequences, not only regarding access to U.S. funding, but regarding the future of the Palestinian people and the hopes of people of good will around the globe for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East."
This resolution affirms the intent of the statement made by the Quartet, which is a group of representatives from the United States, European Union, the United Nations, and Russia that shapes international policy toward resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that the new Palestinian government must be committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, the acceptance of prior agreements and a process seeking a negotiated peace with Israel.
