Quartet Reaffirms Donations to P.A., Bypassing Hamas

The Quartet (the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia) met on Friday and reaffirmed its policy of providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority that bypasses the Hamas-led government. In a statement it encouraged nations to follow suit and provide assistance to the Palestinian people whom it said "are in need." The U.S. State Department said humanitarian aid to the Palestinians would be extended for three months and considered for further extensions.