US President George Bush is asking Congress to provide around $40 million for security forces loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, as the US tries bolstering him for prospective peacemaking with Israel.
Mr Bush has told Congress he would like Mr Abbas' forces to receive the aid, which would be for training, uniforms, vehicles and other support, a senior US official said today.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to try prodding the peace process in a trip to the area later in the month. The administration wants to make sure the US assistance does not fall into the hands of Hamas, the radical group that now runs most of the Palestinian government and is vying with Mr Abbas for overall control.
The US is boycotting Hamas, which is considers a sponsor of terror against Israel. Hamas reacted angrily to the process.
Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said, "The American funding is not based on supporting populations or governments but on supporting an American project to divide populations. ... This is an American policy based on terrorism and dividing and ruling."
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that "non-lethal military assistance" was designed to "build up those responsible security forces to help provide security in Gaza, in the West Bank, help stop terror attacks," and help regulate checkpoints to open more passages for Palestinians to travel.
Some questions from Congress remain to be answered, Mr McCormack said. "We are being very careful and scrupulous in building in safeguards" to make sure the equipment does not get to Hamas, he said. Under US law and Bush administration policy, any form of assistance to the Palestinians must sidetrack Hamas.
The Bush administration demands Hamas pledge to stop violence against Israel and recognise its right to exist.