US welcome of European aid to the Palestinians
Palestine-European Union, Economics, 2/28/2006

The US has welcomed the decision of the European Union to provide urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinian Authority, but it insisted on re-assessing the aid after the formation of the government led by Hamas movement.

US Department Of State spokesman Adam Ereli said that the EU provision of the aid is evidence that "we are all working to prevent the collapse of the interim Palestinian government and to support the Palestinian people."

However, he said that the so-called Quartet committee will consider the aid according to commitment by the said government towards several principles including the rights of Israel to exist, and giving up terrorism.

This European step had provoked Israel as the spokesman for the Israeli government Ranaan Gesein said that this offer is "wrong decision, at the wrong time, and for a wrong party." Israel had frozen the duly monthly sums belonging the Palestinian authorities from customs revenues of about $50 million. This was in reaction to Hamas winning the elections in January this year.

Israel, the US, and Europe, initially had said they would not provide aid to a Hamas-led government, unless Hamas changes its position on a host of issues, while Hamas officials had indicated Hamas will not compromise its position and bargain away Palestinian rights to obtain aid.

Previous Stories:
  Hamas welcomes EU aid resumption to Palestinians   (2/28/2006)
  About 120 million euros in aid to Palestinians   (2/27/2006)
  US, EU diplomats meet with so-called terrorists   (2/7/2006)

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