Not that this is a surprise, but . . .
PLC rejects US anti-terror pledge
The Palestinian Legislative Council has rejected a US-sponsored demand that Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) refrain from transferring funds to individuals or groups that engage in terrorism.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) pledge, entitled "Certification Regarding Terrorist Financing," lists a range of commitments required from NGOs that operate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They include a pledge that NGOs will not engage in activity with groups deemed as terrorist, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades.
About 30 Palestinian NGOs have declared that they would not sign the anti-terrorist commitment. Many of the groups obtain funding from the US agency and American philanthropists.
On Wednesday, the PLC held a session in Ramallah during which its members discussed the USAID demand and decided to support the Palestinian NGOs' position in rejecting it.
