Sources Confirm Congress Set to Pass Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act

Sources on Capitol Hill have confirmed to us that Congress will pass the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 this afternoon, hours before Israeli PM Olmert meets with President Bush at the White House, and one day before Olmert addresses a joint meeting of Congress. The bill was pulled from the House schedule yesterday to allow members to make floor speeches today.

The legislation, which both Israeli FM Tzipi Livni and Ambassador Daniel Ayalon have voiced their support for, would instruct the State Department to cut ties with Palestinian Authority officials and restrict everything except humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and diplomacy with Palestinian Authority officials.

The proposed legislation would only allow for these contacts once Hamas renounced terror and recognized Israel. It would also instruct the Treasury Department to close down the Palestinian Authority missions in Washington and New York, though Bush could sign a waiver on the closures.

Supporters of the bill say "this legislation sets out a clear path for the Hamas government: end your support for terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist and you will be recognized as a legitimate member of the international community. But until those conditions are met, the United States will not allow American taxpayer dollars to be used to support or legitimize a terrorist-led Palestinian Authority."

UPDATE 5/23 @ 1:14pm: The bill passed about an hour ago by vote of 361 to 37, with 9 voting as present and 25 not voting. Among those voting against were the usual suspects... Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), who was the lone vote against the nonbinding S.Con.Res. 79 in February; Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) who recently grilled John Bolton over allegations of U.S. Marines operating inside Iran; Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) who consistently voices her anti-Israel positions and received $1,000 from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in 2004; and Jim Moran (D-VA) who blames Jews for the war in Iraq.