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Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Review U.S. Aid to Palestinians
(PR Newswire) Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the American Jewish Committee on Monday: "Palestinians must choose between peace with Israel as a Jewish state and a marriage with Hamas, a terrorist organization." He vowed that he will review aid to a Palestinian government which shares power with Hamas. "U.S. law is explicit on this. We will not provide assistance to a Palestinian government in which Hamas has a role and exercises 'undue influence.'... Whatever its alleged role, Hamas will wield power and influence, and Hamas, under our law, is a terrorist organization opposed to a two-state agreement and supported by Iran." Menendez also expressed serious concerns about the possible outcome of talks with Iran. "I prefer to have no deal than a bad deal." A good deal "verifiably dismantles" Iran's nuclear program, "sets it back for many years," and has "a robust, intrusive inspections regime" in light of Iran's long record "of deceit and cheating." Menendez pointed out that only Congress can remove some of the sanctions on Iran.