According to the Treasury (via the BBC), the US has banned American businesses from dealing with the democratically elected Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. The US and EU have also cut off aid to Palestine since Hamas came to power on March 30th.

But of course, cutting off ALL business contacts would be unfair to those poor, unfortunate egalitarians over at Haliburton, so certain loopholes have, of course, been established:

The US is making exceptions for government entities under the direct control of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate whose Fatah movement is a rival of Hamas.

The ban also does not forbid Americans from doing business with non-governmental organisations or private sector banks, among other exceptions.

Yes, folks, American international policy in action: if we don’t agree with who you elect with your new democracy, we don’t acknowledge your existence. Something for Iraq to look forward to, I suppose.


Filed under News , Politics