EU foreign ministers suspend aid to Palestinian Authority
MARK BEUNDERMAN
10.04.2006 @ 17:31 CET
EU foreign ministers have agreed on a freeze of EU aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, according to newswire reports.
Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday (10 April) decided to continue the European Commission’s temporary suspension of payments to the Hamas-led government in the Palestinian territories.
EU payments to the Palestinian authorities have been suspended for at least a month (Photo: European Commission)
The commission announced the suspension on Friday (7 April).
Hamas – considered a terrorist organisation by both the EU and the US – won the elections in January and formally took power last month.
German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the suspension would now be extended for a month and would be then assessed again.
He added that the move shows that the EU was serious when it laid down clear conditions for the Hamas-led Palestinian government for it to continue to receive EU cash.
The EU has repeatedly demanded from Hamas that it renounce violence, recognise Israel’s right to exist and express clear support for the peace process.
"It is right we attach consequences to the fact the Palestinian government is not responding to our expectations," Mr Steinmeier was quoted as saying.
Dutch foreign minister Bernhard Bot said according to AP "There will be no aid to (Hamas) government organizations, but we will maintain humanitarian aid."
"The Palestinian people have opted for this government, so they will have to bear the consequences,'' added Mr Bot.
EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the freeze in aid would be limited to cash flows "to and through" the Palestinian government.
"But at the same time of course we want to be standing by the Palestinian people and that means we will want to ... help them on the basic human needs, and that is for instance water, electricity, food aid, education," she said according to Reuters.
The EU is the biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority, with member states and the European Commission putting aside around €500 million a year since 2003.
The suspension of EU payments will not affect humanitarian aid sent to non-governmental organisations or to UN relief agencies in the Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, France on Monday rejected visa requests from two Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament, who had been invited to meet members of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Monday also saw rising tension between Israel and the Palestinians following an Israeli decision on Monday to cut off formal security ties with the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli move was described by Hamas as a "declaration of war."
