The Palestinian Authority returned $30 million of $50 million it received last year from the United States. The Bush administration asked for the money back after Hamas, a terrorist group, won a landslide victory Jan. 25 in legislative elections. About $48 million remained in a bank account that required U.S. approval for use. Testifying Thursday to the U.S. House of Representatives, David Welch, the State Department’s top envoy to the Middle East, said $30 million was returned Wednesday, and the United States was working on a schedule with the Palestinian Authority to return the rest.
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