Of course, it was “ordinary Palestinians” who elected Hamas, but why should our friend and ally be expected to make such fine distinctions? From CNN, with thanks to Shinolite:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (CNN) — Saudi Arabia will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority despite the election of a government led by the Islamic militant group Hamas — because it does not want to punish ordinary Palestinians, the kingdom’s foreign minister said Wednesday.
He made the announcement after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a tour of the Middle East. She is trying to persuade Arab nations to increase pressure on Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist.
But Saudi officials told Rice that the kingdom will continue funding the Palestinian Authority and will encourage Hamas to accept the principle of a two-state solution with Israel, said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.