The European Union on Friday threatened to cut off aid to a
Hamas-led Palestinian government "unless it seeks peace by peaceful
means" — its strongest signal yet to the new leadership.
The EU foreign ministers reviewed financial aid to Palestinians
but announced no immediate halt to funds as long as Hamas has not
formed a government.
"We want to remain a reliable partner for the Palestinian
people, but we will not go soft on our principles," EU External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at the outset of
two days of informal talks by EU foreign ministers in Salzburg.
"Money will not flow to the new (Palestinian) authority unless it
seeks peace by peaceful means."
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the EU
wants to see the Hamas-led government's platform to find out what
it thinks of the 'road map' to Middle East peace drafted by the
United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations.
The EU expects a Hamas-led government to recognize Israel,
renounce violence and accept all previous agreements between the
Palestinians and Israel.
If it does not do that, "there can be no cooperation," said
Steinmeier, who added that the EU has so far not seen any
"meaningful signals" from Hamas.
The decision to hold off on cutting aid was seen as a bid to
pressure Hamas, which won the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary
elections, to shed its strident anti-Israel views and ensure EU aid
continues to ease economic plight of the Palestinian people.
Israel has already halted monthly transfers to the Palestinian
Authority of some $50 million in tax receipts following Hamas'
election victory.
The 25 EU foreign ministers grappled with the question of how
Europe can remain the largest donor for the Palestinians without
any of their aid ending up in the till of a government led by a
faction both the United States and the EU consider a terrorist
organization.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy urged Hamas to
take action on the demands, but said money must still make its way
to the Palestinian people.
"We must avoid an economic suffocation of the Palestinian
territories," Douste-Blazy said. "If we want to avoid social chaos,
economic chaos and security chaos, it is in our interest to help
the Palestinian population."
Hamas lawmaker Mahmoud Zahar reacted angrily to the demand his
group falls in line with the peace process.
"What are the peaceful means?" he asked. "Do they want us to
respect Israel's decision to kill and detain our children?"
He urged the EU to issue a response to Israeli actions against
Palestinians. "They shouldn't just talk about the Palestinians, but
also about Israel," he said.
EU foreign policy and security affairs chief Javier Solana
presented the ministers with an update of current aid programs he
co-wrote with Ferrero-Waldner. The paper offered no funding options
nor a recommendation for an immediate cutoff of EU aid.
In 2005, EU governments and the EU executive commission together
gave about $600 million to the Palestinian Authority.
Officials said half of that came from the European Commission,
whose annual aid fluctuates.
EU aid for the Palestinian Authority includes funds to pay for
salaries and administration costs.
Before the EU foreign ministers' meeting, a Foreign Office
spokesman in London said Britain was not prepared to fund or deal
with terrorists but added that the Palestinian people should not be
punished.
This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged Hamas to
respond positively to international calls to recognize Israel and
start a dialogue with the Jewish state.
French President Jacques Chirac said in Saudi Arabia this week
he was confident Hamas will recognize Israel and renounce violence
after Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian prime minister-designate,
forms a government later this month.
On Feb. 27, the EU granted US$143 million in urgent aid for
Palestinians before a Hamas-led government takes office. The aid
was designed to avoid the collapse of the Palestinian
Authority.
The United States has already ruled out money for the Hamas
government and is considering continued financing without money
going to Hamas.
(Chinadaily.com.cn via AP March 11, 2006)
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