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World Bank Faces Dilemma on Hamas Contacts
(Reuters) Lesley Wroughton - World Bank officials said on Tuesday contact with the new Palestinian government has been "limited" until World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz decides how to proceed. "As long as Hamas is branded by major donors as a terrorist-related organization, it'll be very difficult for the bank staff to proceed, and if they would like to, they will also have to go to the board" of member countries, one senior bank official said. "There is no formal stop in grant disbursements, but they are not going out," he added. Bank officials said they were seeking legal advice on whether staff could be indicted under U.S. or other law for collaborating with a terrorist group. "Even as an employee of the World Bank you may have some protection, but you'll think twice before you really engage because you could be indicted in the U.S. or in Europe," said another bank official.