The Palestinian leadership refused Thursday some American congressmen's warnings against the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas movements, including its impact on U.S. financial aid, Xinhua reported.
The reconciliation is a Palestinian necessity for Palestinians, so all international sides should support it, said Saeb Erekat, a member of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The signing of the memorandum of understanding of reconciliation between the two sides was announced by representatives of the two movements in Egypt on Wednesday.
For the United States, the agreement means that Hamas, classified by Washington as a terrorist group, will be a part of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), according to House Foreign Affairs Chairwoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
She added in a statement that the taxes paid by American citizens should not be to support terrorist sides that threaten the U.S. and its ally, Israel.
Republican Senator Mark Kirk tweeted that Hamas plus Fatah equals possible freezing of the American financial aid for the PNA, adding that Hamas is a terrorist group and killed 26 Americans.
The U.S. has provided financial aid to the Palestinians since the mid-nineties exceeding 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.
The Palestinian schism began in June 2007 after Hamas controlled the Gaza Strip by force following fierce clashes with Fatah.