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Eric Cantor Questions New Palestinian Government’s Willingness to Forge Peace

Calls for review of new government

Palestinians burn replicas of the Israeli flag during a rally
Palestinians burn replicas of the Israeli flag during a rally / AP

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) released a statement on Monday about the newly formed Palestinian Government.

He questioned the new government’s willingness to forge peace with Israel as well as its ability to "govern in a transparent and responsive manner."

"Recent events raise serious doubts both about the willingness of the Palestinian Authority to forge peace with Israel and about its ability to govern in a transparent and responsive manner," Cantor said. "Reports of corruption within the Palestinian Authority have increased, causing many to worry that American funds are propping up an organization more interested in lining its own pockets than in peace and developing a more promising future for the Palestinian people. More worrisome is President Abbas' decision to forge a national unity government with Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for innumerable attacks on Israel that remains totally committed to Israel's destruction."

Cantor said the new unity government needs to "demonstrate in words and actions that it is truly independent of Hamas, that it rejects terrorism, and that it is committed to a peaceful two-state solution."

He called for a review of the new government and said the United States should suspend aid to the country until the review is finished.

"The laws of the United States prohibit assistance to terrorist organizations," Cantor said. "The administration, in consultation with Congress, should initiate an immediate review of this new government. Until such time that it is determined that assistance to this so-called technocratic government is consistent with our own interests, principles, and laws it is incumbent on the administration to suspend U.S. assistance."

Published under: Eric Cantor