Israeli officials reacted with shock and dismay Monday to a decision by the US government to continue funding and cooperating with the Palestinian unity government, despite the inclusion of the Islamist terror militia Hamas in that government. “If the US administration wants to advance peace, it should be calling on [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas to end his pact with Hamas and return to peace talks with Israel. Instead it is enabling Abbas to believe that it is acceptable to form a government with a terrorist organization,” Israeli officials said in a statement to the media. Fort his part, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer said that “with suits in the front office and terrorists in the back office, [the unity government] should not be business as usual.” Read More
