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March 12, 2009

Obama Conditions Palestinian Aid on Recognizing Israel’s “Right to Exist”
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In Israel and the Occupied Territories, the Obama administration has
announced it will withdraw its entire $900 million aid pledge if the
pending Palestinian unity government doesn’t recognize Israel’s “right
to exist.” The warning was reportedly delivered by Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week.
Clinton told Abbas the US Congress won’t approve Palestinian aid unless
the Palestinian government also renounces violence. No such conditions
have been imposed on Israel. The Israeli government refuses to renounce
violence and has never recognized the right of Palestine to exist.
Palestinians have also criticized the demand they recognize Israel’s
“right to exist” because it forces them to go beyond recognizing Israel
within secure borders, but in fact affirm the legitimacy of their
dispossession and ongoing occupation.



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