WASHINGTON - The United States will provide nearly 60 million dollars in aid to boost security forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas after members of Congress dropped their objections to the deal, officials said Tuesday.
"We are clear to proceed," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of the 59 million dollar aid plan.
Another official said 43 million dollars of the funds would go to train and equip the Palestinian Presidential Guard, which answers directly to Abbas, and another 16 would be spent to improve security and infrastructure at the main cargo crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
President George W. Bush initially requested 86 million dollars in January to provide training, vehicles and other "non-lethal" support for security forces loyal to Abbas, the moderate president of the Palestinian Authority who had been locked in a violent power struggle with the Islamic movement Hamas.
But Congress balked at approving the funds and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lowered her request last month to 59 million dollars after Abbas agreed to join a power-sharing government with Hamas.
She told Congress at the time that the State Department was uncertain it could ensure that none of the money initially to be disbursed ended up in the hands of Hamas, which the US, EU and Israel consider a terrorist group.
Israel and the United States have refused to recognize or lift an aid boycott against the unity government due to Hamas's refusal to renounce violence and formally recognize Israel's right to exist.
Abbas's decision to set up the unity government between his Fatah party and Hamas upended a bid by Rice to revive negotiations on the creation of a Palestinian state, though Israel has agreed to maintain contacts with Abbas on security issues and other confidence-building measures.
Rice submitted her revised aid request to Congress on March 23 and under US law, the legislature had 25 days to object to the deal, a delay which expired over the weekend, McCormack said.
Another State Department official said strict controls would be placed on the aid to guarantee it goes only to security forces that "fall under the direct command and control of President Abbas."
"None of this assistance will benefit Hamas or other terrorist organizations," the official said.
Nita Lowy, a New York congresswoman who blocked the initial aid request in January, said she had lifted her objections after receiving assurances from Rice.
"Although I remain troubled that the unity government is unwilling to be a partner for peace with Israel, I am persuaded by Secretary of State Rice and the government of Israel that United States security assistance is necessary to prevent the collapse of any chance for a peace agreement," she said in a statement.
"US participation will ensure that we will be a key player in the multi-donor, international effort to strengthen forces loyal to Abu Mazin through training and equipment for his presidential guard," she said, using Abbas's nom de guerre.
State Department officials said no US money would go directly to Abbas or his security apparatus, but would be provided in the form of training and equipment.
The money will provide "critical training and non-lethal assistance to the Palestinian Presidential Guard, whose responsibilities include protecting President Abbas and other VIP's, including visiting American officials," one official said.
The guard is also responsible for maintaining security at key crossing points from the Palestinian territories into Israel, a key concern for the Jewish state.
The 16 million dollars for the Karney crossing would improve physical security and infrastructure on the Palestinian side of the gateway, the main commercial link between Gaza and Israel.
"Expanding the operations at Karney is vital to addressing pressing economic needs for the 1.4 million residents of Gaza," he said.
"This will enhance Israeli security as well as Palestinian economic development," he said.
04/10/2007 16:59 GMT