(JNS.org) Eighty-eight out of 100 U.S. senators signed a letter to President Barack Obama expressing “grave concern” over the unity government between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party and the terrorist group Hamas. Initiated by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the letter said that the new Palestinian government is a “serious setback to efforts to achieve peace.” Hamas has refused to recognize the Middle East Quartet principles of recognizing Israel, renouncing terror, and adhering to previous agreements. The letter reiterates the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which prohibits America from providing funding to any Palestinian government that is controlled by, shares power with, or is influenced by Hamas. Its submission to Obama follows an earlier request by the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Middle East for Secretary of State Kerry to explain the State Department’s decision to work with the new Hamas-aligned government.