United States Senate
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
May 6, 2011
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
‘Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
‘The decision of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to form a unity
government with Hamas ~ a designated terrorist group — threatens to derail the Middle East
peace effort for the foreseeable future and to undermine the Palestinian Authority’s relations
with the United States.
Hamas rejects peaceful efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and continues to call for the
destruction of the State of Israel. Soon after this agreement was signed, senior Hamas official
Mahmoud Zahar declared that “our plan does not involve negotiations with Istael or recognizing
it.” Hamas and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Gaza have also stepped up their
smuggling of Iranian arms and increased their mortar and rocket attacks against Israeli civilians,
firing more than 130 during the past month alone and nearly 300 this year. Hamas’ response to
the Killing of Osama Bin Laden, condemning “the assassination and Killing of an Arab holy
warrior” is emblematic of Hamas’ ideology and underscores Hamas’ continued support for
terrorism.
The United States should stand by its refusal to work with any Palestinian government that
includes Hamas. We welcome statements from the Administration recognizing that Hamas is a
terrorist organization and insisting that it accept the Quartet conditions (of recognizing Israel's,
right to exist, rejecting violence, and endorsing previous Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements).
Secretary Clinton's 2009 Statement that: “we will not deal with nor in any
nian government that include Hamas until Hamas has renounced violence,
recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian Authority.”
It is imperative for you to make clear to President Abbas that Palestinian Authority participation
in a unity government with an unreformed Hamas will jeopardize its relationship with the United
States, including its receipt of U.S. aid. As you are aware, U.S. law prohibits aid from being
provided to a Palestinian government that includes Hamas, unless the government and all its
members have publically committed to the Quartet principles. We urge you to conduct a review
of the current situation and suspend aid should Hamas refuse to comply with Quartet conditions.Ultimately, the legitimacy of any peace process must always be weighed against the assurances
Israel needs for its security and the security of the region, Hamas” participation in the
Palestinian government eliminates the trust and commitment to peace that must exist between the
parties to move forward and therefore, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated,
the choice is between “peace with Israel or peace with Hamas” because “there is no possibility
for peace with both.”
As fellow Democrats, we thank you for your continued commitment to and investment in Israel”s
security. We urge you to make clear to President Abbas and the international community the
United States’ opposition to a Fatah-Hamas unity government that does not fully accept the
Quartet principles. Such a government will prove fatal to the peace effort, as well as to efforts to
establish a Palestinian state, and will severely harm relations with the United States. The
Palestinian Authority needs to get back to the negotiating table rather than pursue futile and
harmful efforts to join with Hamas or seek recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN.
Sincerely,
Oost. Coreg,S.
ROBERT P. CASEY, JR.
United States Senator
CARL LEVi
United States Senator
SEPH LIEBERMAN
KENT CONRAD
United States Senator United States Senator
CHARLES SCHUMER |ARA BOXER
United States Senator United States Senator- DANIEL AKAKA BARBARA MIKULSKI
United States Senator United States Senator
BILL NELSON.
United States Senator
DEBBIE STABENOW
United States Senator United States Senator
Mane : Royer— Gate
MARK PRYOR JAMIN CARDIN
United States bn United States Senator
SHERRODBROWN BROWN ae PS OEUCHAT!
United States Senator United States Senator
CHRISTOPHER COONS RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
United States Senator United States Senator
Eula
CLAIRE McCASKILL
United States Senator