Harper's Gov't Lauded for Stopping Aid to New Palestinian Gov't
by Chad Groening
April 4, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Canadian pro-family activist is praising his government for officially cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority. The new Conservative government of Stephen Harper made the decision on the same day the terrorist group Hamas took control of the Palestinian Authority. Canada says it is suspending financial assistance because Hamas refuses to renounce violence, and does not recognize the state of Israel's right to exist.
Brian Rushfeldt of the Canada Family Action Coalition says his government made the right decision. "I am extremely pleased to hear that we are simply not going to be sending any money to that organization nor so-called government to continue to support them in the actions that they have been built on," says Rushfeldt.
"When I read the terminology from the new prime minister, even saying they're not going to soften their violent ideology, that in itself is reason to have nothing to do with those people -- because that's exactly the kind of thing that we cannot afford to support in the world."
In addition to cutting off financial aid, says Rushfeldt, Canada is not going to have even any kind of dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. "They're going to have no relationship, they're going to have nothing to do with this group that claims themselves now as the government of Palestine," he notes.
Canada is the first country other than Israel to cut off assistance to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas won the legislative elections in January.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
