EU demands accounts from Arafat
By Lisbeth Kirk
The European Union is ready to stop financial support for the Palestinians from October, if some money is not accounted for. In a letter sent to Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat, EU Commissioner Chris Patten has demanded that spending for the July-August period be accounted for by October at the latest, reports Die Welt.
The ten million Euro paid per month by the EU to help the Palestinians has been criticised most notably by the Israeli Government for being used by Yassir Arafat’s Palestinian Authority to fund terrorist activities. The European Parliament decided in June to unblock the transfers after examining the allegations and finding that there was no evidence that EU funds had been used purposes other than those agreed. The Israeli Government subsequently withdrew its criticisms.