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Israel Backs Compromise on U.S. Aid to PA
(Politico) Ben Smith - The Israeli government is backing a strings-attached compromise that would restore American aid to the Palestinian Authority. Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren said in a statement: "The Israeli government would welcome the decision to lift the congressional hold on U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. We appreciate that the hold was placed to demonstrate to the Palestinians the consequences of their attempts to declare statehood unilaterally at the United Nations, without making lasting peace with Israel." "The Israeli government's position follows a decision by the Obama administration and Congress to declare specific consequences, including the closure of the PLO office in Washington and the withholding of future funding for the Palestinian Authority, and the fact that the Palestinians have refrained from additional UN initiatives. We view these measures as essential for returning the Palestinians to direct talks without preconditions, as endorsed by the Quartet."