House setting Palestinian state parameters

A House of Representatives panel adopted language setting conditions for U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state. In the annual spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee´s foreign aid subcommittee included language Thursday that also would deny funds for the establishment of a Palestinian state until new leadership is elected, terrorism is thwarted and a constitution is written. A specific exemption is allowed for funds directly related to helping reform the Palestinian Authority, but there is no call for aid to the new state once it has met U.S. conditions. An attempt to remove the language prohibiting funding until conditions are met failed. The bill includes the annual appropriations for Israel and the Palestinian areas, as well as the additional funds requested by President Bush earlier this week. [URL]