U.S. bars American business ties with Hamas-led government
As well as withdrawing funding from the Palestinian Authority, as long the new Hamas government refuse to acknowledge Israel's right to exist - which may lead to a humanitarian disaster according to Human Rights groups - the US is now stepping up pressure on the Authority by barring American businesses from having any dealing with Palestine as long as Hamas remain in government.
They even threaten that there will "be penalties" for anyone who conducts business in the area. Nor is this confined merely to US citizens, the US say foreigners who trade with Palestine may, in future, be refused visas to enter the US.
This is extraordinary behaviour towards an incoming government who's first couple of moves were to offer Israel quiet for quiet, a move that Israel responded to with an attack on the Gaza strip which killed six Palestinians, and an offer to to take a serious step towards peace if Israel does the same.
One has to question how serious the US is about resolving the Israel / Palestine dispute, in an even remotely fair way, when she behaves so irrationally.
This behaviour will do nothing to foster peace in the region, which is supposedly the US intention, and is yet another example of Bush's bludgeoning form of diplomacy that has served him so badly in Iraq, and looks likely to fail again in his dealings with Iran.
It also appears to run counter to his claims to cherish democracy when he appears to be telling the Palestinian people that they made the "wrong choice" when they elected Hamas as thier representatives.
Russia has stepped into the breach and said that they intend to fund the Palestinian Authority, a move that further weakens the US ability to extert influence over the Palestinians Authority and hopefully bring about peace between the two parties.
Once again Bush has replaced policy with posturing and a great opportunity may be lost here. Israel for many years demanded that Arafat stop violence that was outwith his control. Now they have a vital opportunity to negotiate with the organ grinder rather than the monkey.
It appears to be an opportunity that both Israel, and the US, are determined to squander.
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