House lawmakers on July 12 called for a reexamination of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in light of its recent destabilizing actions, including its planned alliance with the terrorist group Hamas. Speaking during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, lawmakers also expressed concern about the PA’s plan to seek recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations rather than negotiate with Israel. Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) said direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians constitute the only way to achieve peace, adding that no taxpayer dollars should go to a Palestinian government that includes Hamas. Ranking Member Gary Ackerman (D-NY) echoed these sentiments. “If the Palestinian leadership unwisely chooses to abandon [the peace] process in favor of running after the illusion of statehood at the U.N., that decision will likely come with an annual price tag in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said.