Voices in Europe grow for end to sanctions on Palestinians
Palestine-Israel-European Union, Politics, 3/26/2007

As the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to the Middle East on her first visit since the formation of a Palestinian unity government, voices are growing in Europe to recognize the Palestinian government.

The European Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee earlier this week called on the EU Council to lift sanctions on the government and the Palestinian people.

"It is now necessary that the European Union gives its chance to the government of national unity and to the Palestinian People of hope. We are at decisive instant: there will not be another opportunity before long to go out of the cycle of violence in the Middle East," said the Committee in a statement.

The EU and the US imposed sanctions on the Palestinian government after Hamas was elected to power last year.

Francis Wurtz, the leader of the European United Left/Nordic Green (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament, sent a letter to Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, calling for the EU recognition of the Palestinian government of national unity.

In his letter, Wurtz noted that the new government has committed itself to respect the UN resolutions as well as the agreements adopted by the PLO.

"That is why it seems to me that the time has come for the European Union to recognize the Palestinian government of national unity, to re-establish direct aid and to develop, together with the Palestinian institutions," he said.

Norway, a non-EU member, said it will take up contacts with the new Palestinian government which was unveiled last week following the "Mecca Agreement" between Fatah and Hamas.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met with Norwegian deputy minister of foreign affairs, Raymond Johansen, in Gaza last Monday.

Italian foreign minister, Massimo D'Alema, also telephoned Haniyeh to congratulate him on the formation of the government and confirmed Italy's support of the government.

The Quartet (US, EU, Russia, UN) issued a statement Wednesday suggesting the possibility of engagement with the new PA administration.

While insisting that it stood by the three conditions of recognition of Israel, renunciation of armed struggle and acceptance of past agreements, the Quartet said that the new government will be judged not only on its "composition and platform, but also on its actions."

Previous Stories:
  Livni asks for EU to keep pressure on Hamas   (3/6/2007)
  EU condemns Israeli settlement as illegal   (12/30/2006)
  Abbas claims Palestinian national dialogue talks fail   (12/2/2006)

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