U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee which oversees Global Human Rights and International Operations and Vice Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, voiced strong support for S. Con. Res. 79, which expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. assistance should be withheld from the Palestinian Authority if the ruling majority party within the Palestinian Parliament continues to call for the destruction of Israel: 

    “Nearly two years ago, President Bush called Hamas a terrorist organization bent on disrupting the peace process and said Hamas had to be dismantled before peace could be achieved,” said Smith. “President Bush was exactly right – progress toward peace can only occur if all sides work to defeat the determined enemies of peace, such as Hamas.” 

    In the aftermath of the disturbing election just held, President Bush reiterated that “the United States does not support political parties that want to destroy our ally Israel, and that people must renounce that part of their platform.”

    Hamas is an organization that has: declared the destruction of Israel its goal; printed comic books for children to encourage them to become suicide bombers; and considered the United States every bit as much the enemy as Israel. As the majority party, Hamas is, for all practical purposes, the Palestinian Authority. Any money the Palestinian Authority gets, Hamas will control. Therefore, the House and Senate resolution is absolutely timely: no money must go to Hamas.

    “Hamas has acted as an enemy to America and our allies,” said Smith. “Until Hamas condemns their terrorist organization’s agenda of hatred and agrees to work with the international community to sustain a lasting peaceful settlement with Israel, American taxpayer dollars cannot be used to fund the Palestinian government.” 

    By voting for this important measure, the U.S. Congress has shown the world that the United States – unflinchingly and to the utmost of our resources – supports the existence, freedom and security of Israel. As the one democratic nation in the Middle East, Israel is a nation to which we are bound by unbreakable bonds of friendship and shared democratic values.