EU to keep paying new Hamas-linked government
The EU has said it will keep on giving money to the Palestinian authorities despite their new deal with Hamas, an EU-designated terrorist group.
Foreign relations spokesman Michael Mann said on Monday (6 February) that it's business as usual after the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas in Qatar earlier the same day agreed to form a unity government.
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"The EU looks forward to continuing its support, including through direct financial assistance, for a new Palestinian government that should uphold the principle of non-violence," he noted in a written statement.
An EU diplomat based in Israel told EUobserver: "We need to see what this new government will look like - it's very early. We need to know who will be the ministers and what they will say. We expect a technocratic government that will prepare for elections."
The EU currently gives the Palestinian side some €450 million a year in aid meant to help refugees and support state-building measures, such as creating a decent civilian police force in the West Bank. It has already signed up for €150-million-worth of new projects for 2012.
The EU contact in Israel noted that the programme - named Pegasus - contains "very sophisticated auditing methods" and a "monitoring and verification process" to prevent the cash being spent on arms or stolen.
Israel and the US are also keeping up financial transfers to the PLO for now.
But Israeli diplomat told this website on Tuesday: "As far as we are concerned, on the face of it, it means that [PLO chief] Abbas is opting for Hamas rather than opting for peace with Israel and he can't have both."
He noted that Israel may "review" whether or not to keep handing over Palestinian tax income to the group.
Hamas - whose official charter calls for the destruction of Israel and advocates armed resistance - is designated by the EU and US as a terrorist entity. But it boosted its status in EU eyes by freeing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a recent prisoner swap with Israel.
Another EU diplomat said there is a new conversation in Brussels on whether or not to de-list the group in order to build better relations with post-Arab-Spring governments in the region. "It is too early to take such a step right now. But depending on events, we might see it a year or so down the line," the source said.
The Qatar deal makes Abbas the president and prime minister of a technocratic unity government, which is expected to hold elections shortly after May.
It was agreed by Hamas-leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal, posing questions on whether Gaza-based Hamas authorities will give it full backing.
The last time the Palestinians held elections - in 2006 - Hamas won. But the EU refused to recognise the result and Israel reacted by arresting dozens of Hamas MPs.
For his part, Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt tweeted on Tuesday: "We must welcome agreements that pave the way for elections in Palestine. And we must be prepared to respects its result here as elsewhere."
This story was altered at 10.30am Brussels time on 7 February. The original version wrongly attributed the Israeli quotes to foreign ministry spokeswoman Ilana Stein