Democrats Cautious On Palestinian Unity Government After Murder Of Israeli Teens
WASHINGTON — Influential Democrats in Congress are staying cautious on the question of the U.S. stance toward the Palestinian unity government in the wake of the news that three Israeli teens were found dead in the West Bank.
Israel has placed the blame for the deaths of Gilad Shaar, Naftali Fraenkel (a U.S.-Israeli citizen), and Eyal Yifrach, who disappeared weeks ago while hitchhiking in the West Bank, squarely on Hamas; "Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday. Some members of Congress have been calling for the United States to stop aid to the Palestinian Authority ever since Hamas joined a unity government with Fatah in early June, but it doesn't look like the deaths of the boys will lead to that yet — especially since the unity government is thought to be unlikely to stay together in the wake of the incident.
"The United States should stand shoulder to shoulder with our Israeli allies and provide support in the effort to bring the murderers to justice," said House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Eliot Engel in a statement to BuzzFeed. "However, we don't know all the facts about this yet, so I don't want to speculate about next steps."
"These boys had their whole lives ahead of them, and deserved so much better," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. "As a mother, a Jew, and a public servant, my heart goes out to their families, friends, and the Israeli people. The terrorist cowards who perpetrated such heinous crimes must be brought to justice swiftly."
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/democrats-cautious-on-palestinian-unity-government-after-mur?s=mobile