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Congress to Obama: Cut aid to Palestinians

The State Department announced it will not cut assistance to the Palestinian Authority despite the unity government with Hamas.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) walks next to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) before pre-bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington March 3, 2014. Netanyahu bluntly told Barack Obama on Monday that Israelis expected their leader not to compromise on their security even as the U.S. president sought to reassure him on Iran diplomacy and pressure him on Middle East peace talks. In White House talks overshadowed by the Ukraine crisis, the two leaders tried to avoid any direct clash

The Obama administration said Monday that it wouldn't cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) despite its unity government with Hamas, setting up a bruising battle with Congress.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that the administration believes the PA has "every desire and intent" to abide by its commitment to recognize Israel and forswear violence. She promised "close consultation" with Congress but made it clear that the administration intends to continue disbursing the $440 million in aid to the West Bank and Gaza requested in President Obama's 2014 budget.

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