US House of Representatives votes to withhold Egyptian funding until arms-smuggling ceases to Gaza 

Date: 22 / 06 / 2007 Time: 15:11

Bethlehem - Ma'an - 

The US House of Representatives voted on Friday to withhold $200 million in military funds for Egypt until Cairo shows it is stopping weapons-smuggling from Egypt to the Gaza Strip and improving human rights abuses, Reuters and other news services reported.

The US House bill also reiterated that no US funds could be channeled to Hamas.

On Monday, the United States lifted an aid embargo on the Palestinian government aimed at bolstering Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, while isolating Hamas.

Earlier this week, US President George W. Bush announced after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the United States would increase its military assistance to Israel to ensure its "qualitative military edge," Reuters reported. The US president also assured that the United States would sign a new agreement securing American aid to Israel for the next decade.

 

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