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Source: http://washingtontimes.com/world/20030930-084109-8200r.htm
U.S. Eyes Israeli Aid Penalties
(Washington Times) William Burns, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said Tuesday that Israel's settlement activities and the security fence are impediments to implementing President Bush's vision of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel by 2005. But on Capitol Hill, lawmakers criticized the administration's position on the security fence. "The fence is a completely defensive measure. Israel should be applauded for it," said Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat. Rep. Steve Israel, also a New York Democrat, said the administration is "absolutely inconsistent." "Fifteen of the 19 hijackers [on September 11] were from Saudi Arabia. Nobody is talking about withholding aid to the Saudis. Why Israel? It's really the only democratic friend we have in the Middle East."