Paul Bill Would End Palestinian Assistance Until Israel's Right to Exist Recognized

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he’ll introduce a bill this week to cut off aid to the Palestinian government unless it recognizes Israel’s right to exist.

That became even less likely when Fatah and Hamas decided to bury the hatchet and end years of strife with a unity agreement, essentially detonating President Obama’s push for a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Paul, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the agreement “brings both danger and opportunity to the peace process, and the next five weeks may prove critical.”

“Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with an entity that does not believe it should exist and that has used terrorist tactics to seek its end,” he said. Israel’s cabinet voted unanimously last week to not negotiate with Hamas.

“That being said, the new unity government has a chance to put itself on the record as clearly believing in the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, as Israel recognizes the right of a Palestinian state to exist. It should also declare an immediate and lasting ceasefire to enable negotiations. If that is accomplished swiftly, the peace process can move forward with two willing partners,” said the senator, who’s flirting with a run for the Oval Office in 2016.

“In the absence of such a clear, unambiguous statement on the part of the newly unified Palestinian government, the United States should act to enforce the law and cut off aid to the Palestinian government until they recognize Israel’s right to exist,” Paul continued.

“I will introduce a measure when Congress returns this week to make all future aid to the Palestinian government conditional upon this statement, with a cutoff date of five weeks from now if, upon its formation, the new government does not take this vital step toward peace.”