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Letter to European Commision Commissioner for External Relations Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Date: April 7, 2006
Issues: Foreign Affairs


Letter to European Commision Commissioner for External Relations Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner

April 7, 2006

European Commission
Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Commissioner for External Relations
Rue Del La
Loi, 200-149
Bruxelles

Dear Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner,

We write to share with you our strong concern over the issue of international aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government. Given that both the United States and the European Union have recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization, we welcome the demand from the European Union that Hamas renounce terror. But we are troubled that the European Union has not formally pledged to cut assistance to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas-led government maintains its position calling for the destruction of Israel.

One of the factors that people have acknowledged helped contribute to the Hamas victory is that they were seen, in part, as benefactors of the people. That is, they were not supported in the elections solely by people who embraced the Hamas rejectionist approach to peace, but also by those who were grateful to Hamas for its ability to provide assistance and support for the material needs of the people.

We believe it is very important that the international community not provide assistance that would further enhance the political appeal of Hamas or its violent agenda. And so we strongly urge you to make it clear that the European Union will not provide assistance to a Hamas-led government unless Hamas renounces the use of violence and changes its charter to recognize Israel's right to exist.

REP. BARNEY FRANK
REP. HENRY A. WAXMAN
REP. DAN BURTON
REP.TOM LANTOS
REP. NITA M. LOWEY
REP. MARK E. SOUDER
REP. JERROLD NADLER
REP. HOWARD L. BERMAN
REP. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
REP. GARY L. ACKERMAN
REP. IKE SKELTON
REP. ARTUR DAVIS
REP. CAROLYN MC CARTHY
REP. EDWARD J. MARKEY
REP. TIM MURPHY
REP. DAVID SCOTT
REP. AL GREEN
REP. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP
REP. SHELLEY BERKLEY
REP. ROBERT E. ANDREWS
REP. MICHAEL R. MC NULTY
REP. JOSEPH CROWLEY
REP. LYNN C. WOOLSEY
REP. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN
REP. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY
REP. RUSH D. HOLT
REP. ELIOT L. ENGEL
REP. GENE GREEN
REP. EDOLPHUS TOWNS
REP. ALLEN BOYD
REP. BRAD SHERMAN
REP. DORIS O. MATSUI
REP. ROBERT A. BRADY
REP. PETER J. VISCLOSKY
REP. KENDRICK B. MEEK
REP. JOE BACA
REP. RUSS CARNAHAN
REP. MAJOR R. OWENS
REP. JOHN BARROW
REP. BRIAN HIGGINS
REP. TED STRICKLAND

http://www.house.gov/frank/euhamasaid.html

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