Jerusalem Cloakroom #86

1. Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in August 1993, Congress has appropriated $900MN in foreign aid to the PLO, with the aim of moderating the PLO, distancing it from Hamas and inducing compliance with commitments made. In fact, foreign aid to the PLO - lacking accountability and transparency - has achieved a perverse outcome, exacerbating PLO corruption and undermining US interests in the Mideast!
    
2. In spite of US foreign aid, Arafat has remained Saddam's staunchest ally, declaring that "any offensive against Iraq is an offensive against the Palestinian People" (Al-Quds Palestinian daily, May 4, 2000). He has strengthened ties with Iran, Libya, Sudan and Afghanistan, undermining the stability of the Hashemite regime in Jordan, claiming sole representation of all Palestinians (two-thirds of Jordan's population), and facilitating Russia's reassertive profile in the region. Arafat has harbored Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists and has drafted to his security forces Palestinian terrorists implicated in the murder of 12 US citizens. The PLO has condemned US pursuit of Osama Bin-Laden, who is a major shareholder of the PLO telecom company (PalTel). Burning Ol' Glory and anti-US (and anti-Jewish) incitement have become a routine ritual in PLO-controlled areas, favorably reported by Arafat's controlled media.
    
3. The PLO's massive abuse of human-rights has been highlighted by the oppression of the Christian minority, causing a massive emigration (Bethlehem used to be 80% Christian and is now 80% Moslem!), transferring land from Christians to Moslems, and erecting mosques next to existing churches.
    
4. US foreign aid to the PLO was appropriated in return for commitments made and systematically violated by the PLO, following the accords of Oslo, Cairo, Hebron, Wye and Sharm el-Sheikh. The PLO has tolerated expansion of Hamas infrastructure, has exacerbated anti-Israel incitement (Mein Kampf is a best seller!), has proliferated illegal firearms, has increased its security forces to 50,000 (beyond the specified 20,000!) etc.
    
5. Rewarding the PLO for commitments made has also ignored the PLO's inter-Arab track record of treachery: The 1990 betrayal of Sheikh Sabah by spearheading Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which accorded Arafat hospitality, finances, employment and passports since 1958; the 1975 destruction of Lebanon, which absorbed the PLO following its expulsion from Jordan; the 1970 attempt to topple King Hussein, who provided the PLO with operational bases following the 1967 War; the 1966 murder of Syrian officers, in spite of Syrian hospitality extended to Arafat; etc.
    
6. According to Newsweek (Nov. 15, 1999), Arafat supplied the weapons to the Syrian-supported terrorists who murdered 241 US Marines in 1983 in Beirut. Arafat ordered the March 2, 1973, execution of Ambassador Cleo Noel and Charge' d'Affairs Curtis Moore of the US Embassy in Sudan.
    
7. Will Congress learn from, or repeat, past mistakes?! Will Congress demand full and prior compliance by the PLO as a prerequisite for a consideration of further foreign aid?! Will Congress examine the impact of a PLO state on vital US interests in the Mideast?!