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House to Vote Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 9) on Palestinian Sanctions Bill

VOTE WAS POSTPONED -- A SUCCESS! See the link to an updated ACTION ALERT


Click here to see APN's updated Action Alert following the successful delay in voting on HR 4681


See the Bush Administration's comments on the current version of HR 4681 which supports its intent but NOT the content



(Distributed on Monday, May 8, 2006)

The House is expected to vote on HR 4681, the "Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006" tomorrow, (Tuesday May 9th). This legislation seeks to impose sweeping sanctions against the Palestinians in response to the victory of Hamas in the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

Hamas' victory in the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council was regrettable, and the Hamas Government's failure to condemn - much less takes steps to prevent - acts of terrorism is abhorrent. It is appropriate that the international community (including the U.S.) make a concerted and coordinated effort to pressure Hamas. However, HR 4681 risks undermining such efforts, harming U.S. national security, and undermining those Palestinian officials and activists who recognize Israel, reject terror, and support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This bill appears to be more about political grandstanding than about protecting Israeli or American interests:

1) HR 4681 subjugates U.S. national security interests to political grandstanding. It does so by eliminating the President's authority to waive sanctions in the interests of U.S. national security - a waiver that is a standard component of virtually all U.S. sanctions legislation.

2) HR 4681 risks undermining Palestinian moderates and strengthening extremists by providing no political horizon that an alternative Palestinian leadership can strive to reach.

3) HR 4681 preconditions U.S. relations with the PA - and imposes sanctions - based on criteria that are unrelated to the issues raised by the Hamas elections.

4) HR 4681 makes it more difficult for the U.S. to engage with alternatives to a Hamas-led government, like President Mahmoud Abbas or the PLO.

Click here to read APN's message on this legislation, which was emailed this morning to every Representative.

Please contact your Representative. Tell him or her that this legislation is fundamentally flawed and deserves to be rejected. Urge him or her to speak out on the House floor and submit statements drawing attention to the many serious problems with HR 4681.

Take Action NOW!

  • Click here to visit APN's online Action Center where you can edit and send an e-mail letter with just a few easy clicks.

  • Once your web browser has opened the Action Center, enter your zip code into the boxes at the top or bottom of the webpage.