Leftist U.S. Jews oppose anti-Hamas legislation

[Soldier4Christ]

Claim Congressional bill 'too tough' on terror group


JERUSALEM – While the U.S. Congress is attempting to push tough legislation aimed at financially and diplomatically isolating the new Hamas-led Palestinian government, WND has learned leftist American Jewish organizations are working to block the anti-Hamas efforts, some arguing the terror group – which has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians – may be willing to make peace with the Jewish state.

"We oppose the legislation. The U.S. should be extending carrots to Hamas, and not just slapping them with sticks. We should be trying to encourage Hamas to recognize Israel, not shutting them out completely," M.J. Rosenberg, director of policy for the Israel Policy Forum, a prominent leftist think tank, told WND.

Rosenberg is one of several leftist Jewish leaders opposing a bill initiated in the House of Representatives following Hamas' major election victory last month by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Tom Lantos, D-Calif., that calls for a strict termination of aid to the new Hamas-dominated government.

The Ros-Lehtinen legislation designates the Palestinian Authority under Hamas a terror supporting entity. It demands the halt of direct and indirect U.S. assistance to the PA with the exception of certain humanitarian aid, and bars American financial support for U.N. and non-governmental agencies connected to the PA.

The bill calls for PA officials to be prevented from receiving visas to enter the U.S., restricts the Palestinian government from maintaining representative offices in the U.S., and places travel restrictions on PA and PLO representatives to the U.N.

The congressional bill also states American diplomats cannot hold talks with members of any Palestinian terror group, including Hamas and Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades. And it places tight restrictions on the U.S. president's options for circumventing the bill, omitting any national security waivers related to aid and requiring a 15-day waiting period before any humanitarian assistance can be forwarded.

According to the Ros-Lehtinen bill, the U.S. can reassess its support for the PA if the Palestinian government proves it is not employing members of Hamas or any other group featured on the State Department list of terror groups. The PA would also need to dismantle all Palestinian terror organizations, ensure democracy and financial transparency, and halt all anti-Israel incitement and instead distribute material that promotes peaceful coexistence.

The bill is supported by many major Jewish and Christian pro-Israel advocacy groups. The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbying organization is reportedly making the isolation of Hamas, including a push for the Ros-Lehtinen bill, its primary goal during the group's annual policy conference in Washington D.C. next month.

But leftist American Jewish organizations are up in arms about the legislation, arguing it is too tough on Hamas – a terror group whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel "by assaulting and killing."

Lewis Roth, assistant director of Americans for Peace Now, a leftist group supporting final status negotiations to create a Palestinian state, said while his organization is still formulating its stance on the Ros-Lehtinen legislation it "has a problem" with the new bill demanding Hamas must recognize Israel.

"This new call for the PA to recognize the existence of Israel is not agreeable," Roth told WND. "It's something the U.S. has never applied before in negotiations with the Palestinians or with regard to Jordanian treaties. The clause is clearly drafted with Hamas in mind. It makes no sense. What if Fatah [which recognizes Israel] comes back to power?"

Roth said Americans for Peace Now also opposes the bill because it restricts options for a presidential waver. He said his group "hopes to work to improve the legislation so it is better fit to promote regional peace."

Another leftist group, the Brit Tzedek v'Shalom Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, has initiated an online petition calling for Americans to oppose the anti-Hamas legislation.

"Lehtinen and Lantos have introduced legislation that severely restricts the U.S. ability to constructively engage with moderate Palestinians and to provide critical aid to the Palestinian people. This bill, H.R. 4681, effectively forfeits any constructive US role in returning Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table," states the online petition.

Brit Tzedek calls for a "wait-and-see approach" toward the new Hamas government. "However," continues the online petition, "Congress has rushed to respond to this turn of events with legislation that, as currently written, threatens to shut the door permanently."

Rosenberg of the Israel Policy Forum said if Hamas declares it recognizes Israel, the Jewish state should negotiate with the new Palestinian government.

Seymour Reich, the forum's president, told WND, "Our concern is that the bill is too restrictive. We need flexibility regarding Hamas. We need to follow the situation."

The PA has for years depended on U.S. and European aid to pay salaries for its nearly 150,000 employees, totaling about $90 million per month. While most European countries have expressed support for isolating Hamas, Israeli officials fear substantial cracks in a united international front. Russia, Turkey and several South American countries have invited a Hamas delegation to visit. Russia has hinted it may supply the Hamas-led PA with weapons.

In response to the suggested American restrictions, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar claimed his terror group doesn't need "satanic" American money.

"Those who built their structure on the basis of the Quran ... cannot budge because of promises from America or a dollar from Europe. I wish America would cut off its aid. We do not need this satanic money," al-Zahar said at a news conference in Cairo.

But al-Zahar took quite a different tone in a WND interview just prior to last month's Palestinian elections in which he outright lobbied for U.S. money.

"Without any condition we are accepting any money and we are ready to put these figures in the proper way and in a purified manner. Anybody can follow this money, can observe and account, do anything to be sure that we are running our system without corruption," al-Zahar said in response to a question about whether he would accept American aid.

Al-Zahar, whose group has openly funded and carried out over 60 suicide bombings and hundreds of rocket and shooting attacks against Israelis, said he would use American money to build "factories, agriculture and [other] real investments in the Palestinian people."