Cantor Statement on Resolution Calling for Hamas to be Banned from Palestinian Election

Cantor Statement on Resolution Calling for Hamas to be Banned from Palestinian Election
December 8, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) released the following statement today calling for Hamas and other terrorist groups to be banned from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Palestinian Authority. Cantor is the lead sponsor of H.Res.575 which calls on Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to take such action:

"Even before the Palestinian people choose their elected representatives, they must make another choice - whether to keep their allegiance with a terrorist past or begin a new path towards peace.

"Their president, Mahmoud Abbas, has only paid lip service to stopping the terrorists. When he was elected, he was presented with a historic opportunity to change the direction of the Palestinian Authority from the terror that was under Yasser Arafat to one of peace. But at every turn he has refused to take the steps necessary to eliminate the terrorists who kill innocent men, women and children on Israel's streets.

"Now with an election around the corner, rather than use all the force he has at his disposal to get rid of the terrorists, he is giving Hamas and other terrorist groups legitimacy by allowing them to participate in these elections.

"Mr. Abbas has an opportunity right now to make a genuine gesture toward peace by banning Hamas and other terrorist groups from the electoral process. For all of the efforts that Israel has made this year for peace, and for all of the innocent victims of the scourge of Palestinian terrorism, he must stop offering legitimacy to terrorists."

http://cantor.house.gov/news/2005/releases/12-08_Hamas.htm