A bipartisan letter circulating in the U.S. Senate urges Condoleezza Rice to resist international pressure to end the isolation of the Palestinian Authority.
We urge you to continue to hold firm and insist that these very basic principles not change, says the letter to the U.S. secretary of state initiated by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) No direct aid and no contacts with a Palestinian Authority that does not explicitly and unequivocally recognize Israel s right to exist, renounce terror and accept previous agreements.
Russia is pressing others dealing with the Palestinians to allow assistance to resume now that Hamas, a terrorist group, and the relatively moderate Fatah have signed a national unity agreement that would respect prior agreements. Israel and the United States want a more explicit commitment to recognize Israel and end terrorism.
Nelson and Ensign are seeking signatories before sending the letter; activists attending next week s American Israel Public Affair Committee annual policy forum will lobby for the letter.
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