US Sen. Rand Paul said he will introduce legislation that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority unless its government recognized Israel as a Jewish state. Paul (R-Ky.), a likely contender for the Republican presidential nod in 2016, said the law was needed because of the interim governance agreement last week between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. He said he would introduce the legislation this week. “In the absence of such a clear, unambiguous statement on the part of the newly unified Palestinian government, the United States should act to enforce the law and cut off aid to the Palestinian government until they recognize Israel’s right to exist,” Paul said. Referring to Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is termed a terrorist group by the US, Israel and the European Union, Paul said, “Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with an entity that does not believe it should exist and that has used terrorist tactics to seek its end.” (Ynet)