In an exclusive Reuters story, Adam Entous reports that the U.S. has "quietly started a campaign projected to cost up to $42 million to bolster Hamas's political opponents ahead of possible early Palestinian elections." We don't think there is anything quiet about it -- it was announced publicly on April 7 and billed as funds to "protect[s] and promote[s] moderation and democratic alternatives to Hamas." However, there have been no statements since then about what is actually happening with the money.
U.S. officials and consultants say the effort is being conducted without fanfare in order to protect the Palestinians who are receiving U.S. help -- some already branded by Hamas leaders as collaborators with Washington and Jerusalem.
In U.S. budget terms, $42 million is a small amount, but in Gaza and the West Bank, it represents more than three times the total spent by the main parties and candidates in the January election. Some of this work is being facilitated by NGO's, such as the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which is focusing on internal party reform, and International Republican Institute, which is focused on providing training and strategic advice to several Palestinian independent parties.
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