The United States will
revise its aid plan for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’
security forces, Condoleezza Rice said. “I will be coming back to you
with a reformed plan or re-established plan for how we would use
security funding under the new conditions,” the U.S. secretary of state
told the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on
Wednesday.
Reuters later quoted a State Department official as saying
that Rice would slash funding for Abbas’ forces from $86 million to $50 million. Rice was
facing tough questioning from Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), chairwoman
of the committee’s Foreign Operations subcommittee, over what has
changed now that Abbas, considered moderate, had formed a unity
government with the Hamas terrorist group. Rice said she still plans to
use the funds to bolster those considered moderate within the Palestinian Authority. “I
believe very strongly we do need to support the development of security
forces that are loyal to those who accept the Quartet principles,” she
said, referring to the international group of peace negotiators that mandates the Palestinian Authority must recognize Israel and renounce violence before aid can be resumed, “because I’m quite certain that those who do not accept it will continue to
build their security forces.”
