1.  To what views of Hamas does Sect. Rice refer in paragraph 2?

2.  What groups make up the Quartet?  On what issue does the Quartet agree?  In what year and for what reason was the Quartet formed?  (For the history of the Quartet, go the the U.N. website.)

3.  What percent of the seats in the Palestinian legislature did Hamas win in Wednesday's election?

4.  What is the Palestinian Authority's annual budget?  Approximately what percent of the budget comes from foreign aid? 

5.  In addition to direct aid, how much money did the U.S. give to the Palestinian Authority last year?  Why won't the U.S. cut off all of that amount?

6.  The governments of Syria and Iran support Hamas and its view that Israel should not exist.  When asked about the possibility of Iran and Syria giving the Palestinian Authority money to replace that withheld by the West, Sect. Rice replied that she hoped that they would not do so.  What do you think Syria and Iran will do?  Explain your answer.