US Aid to Palestine -- for Democracy

The Bush administration is spending foreign aid money to increase the popularity of the Palestinian Authority on the eve of crucial elections in which the governing party faces a serious challenge from the radical Islamic group Hamas.

The approximately $2 million program is being led by a division of the U.S. Agency for International Development. But no U.S. government logos appear with the projects or events being undertaken. U.S. officials say their low profile is meant to ensure that the Palestinian Authority receives public credit for a collection of small, popular projects and events to be unveiled before Palestinians select their first parliament in a decade.

U.S. officials say they fear the election will result in a large Hamas presence in the 132-seat legislature. Hamas is classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization. But its reputation for competence and accountability in providing social services has made it a stiff rival of the secular Fatah movement, which runs the Palestinian Authority and has long been the largest party in the Palestinian territories.

The program highlights the central challenge facing the Bush administration as it promotes democracy in the Middle East. But in attempting to manage the results, the administration risks undermining the democratic goals it is promoting.

P.S. - Hamas ended up unseating the U.S. backed favorite, winning a major number of seats in the Palestinian legislative process, with 77 percent of the 1.3 million registered Palestinian voters casting ballots

[Washington Post]