Santer criticizes practices against the Palestinians

The European Commission on Tuesday criticized Israeli measures and practices against the Palestinians in the occupied Arab territories.

EC President Jacques Santer held Israel responsible for the collapse of the Palestinian economy as a result of Israeli sanctions and continued military cordoning of the Palestinians.

In a meeting for foreign ministers of European Union member states held in Brussels on Tuesday, Santer said: "Despite what we know of Israel's worries on what it terms security, the Israeli government should not proceed in obstructing activities of the Palestinian economy, closing the occupied territories and preventing the Palestinians from opening Rafah airport and the port of Gaza."

Santer added that the European Commission will continue offering aid to the Palestinians in the self-rule areas, the BBC reported.