According to a statement by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, he is planning to propose a bill that would suspend the us government's aid to the Palestinians. The proposal is said to be a response to the reconciliation between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah and Hamas, which is the militant Islamist group that currently rules the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Haaretz said that the proposal also follows the warnings issued by key Congressional appropriators Nita Lowey and Kay Granger, who has voted to cut off financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in the wake of the Palestinians' warming to the militant Islamist group.
"Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with an entity that does not believe it should exist, and has used terrorist tactics to seek its end," Paul said about the proposed bill.
Haaretz said that Paul is a strong contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He is also considered a leader of the GOP's so-called isolationist wing, of which the majority believes in a robust foreign policy and supports Israel. CBS News said that as of Sunday, Paul is continuing efforts to build stronger relationships with the establishment wing of the Republican Party in the Northeast despite winning the Maine GOP's straw poll on Sunday in preparation for the Republican nominations.
It has also been noted that Paul's father, ex-congressman Ron Paul, is a known hardline isolationist who has opposed to the extension of US aid to foreign countries.
The bill, should it get the required votes, will grant Palestinian leaders five weeks following the formation of the new Palestinian government under the Fatah-Hamas accord to declare a ceasefire with Isral and publicly acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a country. Should the Palestinian government refused to comply, Haaretz said Paul's proposed bill will put a stop to the US' yearly financial aid to the Palestinian Authority at $400 million.
