[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2006

  Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, Hamas is first and foremost a terrorist 
organization. Ideologically, its charter is clarion call for the 
destruction of Israel. In practice, the group has dedicated itself to 
murder and violence against innocent Israeli civilians. No election, no 
matter how democratic it is viewed by procedural standards, can wash 
its hands of the blood of its victims.
  That is why H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, is an 
essential piece of legislation. The bill would prohibit all direct aid 
to the Palestinian Authority as long as it is led by Hamas or any other 
group that refuses to renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to 
exist, and accept previous agreements.
  There is no room for ambiguity. Last month, Hamas praised a terror 
attack in Tel Aviv as a legitimate act of self-defense. Just the other 
week, Jordanian authorities arrested 20 Hamas terrorists who were 
smuggling Iranian-made Katyusha rockets and tank missiles. Weapons are 
being smuggled across the Egyptian border as well. It cannot be 
tolerated.
  For the most part, the Quartet has stood firm in isolating Hamas. The 
United States, the European Union, Canada and other nations have 
blocked the direct transfer of funds to the new Palestinian Authority 
and prohibited political contact with Hamas officials. The legislation 
before us codifies this approach.
  H.R. 4681 also advances creative solutions to meet the humanitarian 
needs of the Palestinian people without empowering or enriching a 
terrorist regime. The legislation is carefully crafted to maintain 
assistance to the Palestinian people, while giving confidence to 
American taxpayers that aid will not be used to prop up Hamas leaders.
  Direct U.S. assistance to the Palestinian people has always been 
primarily administered through non-governmental organizations via the 
USAID West Bank and Gaza aid program. H.R. 4681 makes this program, 
which accounts for the largest per capita U.S. aid contribution in the 
world, more central than ever. While some have expressed concern that 
requiring advanced notification and justification to Congress for non-
humanitarian aid will delay or impede support for such programs, these 
concerns are misplaced. The modest conditions will only bring greater 
transparency and improve the quality and focus of the programs funded. 
Pre-certification is not necessary for the distribution of humanitarian 
aid.
  In addition, the bill provides substantial flexibility to continue 
U.S. support for the independent Palestinian election commission and 
assistance to the office of President Mahmoud Abbas to support the 
peace process. Considering the hopes and expectations that the Hamas 
government will collapse, such support is imperative to build a viable 
political alternative that is moderate and free from the rampant 
corruption of Fatah candidates that alienated Palestinian voters.
  United States foreign policy in the Middle East is full of nuance, 
but when it comes to Hamas our message must be black and white: we will 
not reward terrorists or terrorism.
  H.R. 4681 conveys this timely and important message and it is worth 
our strong support.

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