Posted on 02/25/2006 5:01:46 AM PST by Hannah Senesh
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who met with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and US envoy David Welch in Ramallah Saturday, said after the meeting that Welch promised him that the US would not cut off financial aid to the PA, Israel Radio reported.
On Friday, US President George W. Bush said Friday that Hamas leaders have "a choice to make," and that "if [Hamas] wants the help of America and the international community to build a prosperous, independent Palestinian state, they must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace."
Abbas said Friday night in an interview to the British television channel ITV-1, which will be aired Sunday, that he urged Israel and other nations not to "push Hamas into a corner."
Abbas also declared that he would resign if Hamas refused to recognize Israel and continued its terrorist activity.
"If I can't do my job the way I see fit, I'll resign," Abbas declared.
Abbas said that he believed that the planned visit to Russia by a number of Hamas leaders could "help," and described Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whom he recently charged with forming a new cabinet, as a "flexible diplomat."
Bush on Friday called on Hamas to choose whether it becomes a political organization or remains a terror group.
"The international community must continue to make clear to Hamas that democratically elected leaders cannot have one foot in the camp of democracy and one foot in the camp of terror," Bush said in an address to the American Legion veterans' group in Washington DC.
"The leaders of Hamas have a choice to make," Bush continued.
The EU, meanwhile, is expected to approve the release of tens of millions of dollars next week to help Abbas' caretaker administration, diplomats said Friday, but will postpone a decision on further aid after Hamas takes power.
Options the bloc's foreign ministers are considering include $48 million in new aid to help run utilities such as power supply and waste collection, and authorizing the World Bank to unblock around $60 million to pay salaries of Palestinian Authority employees.
The money is designed to keep the Palestinian Authority afloat after Israel's decision to withhold $50 million a month in tax funds following Hamas' election victory.
"The concept is to be able to help the Palestinian people, to be able to help the Palestinian Authority during this transition period," said EU spokeswoman Cristina Gallach, who declined to give details of what the ministers may decide Monday.
EU officials said there would be no decision at Monday's meeting on funding to the Palestinians after a Hamas government takes power.
"Later on we will evaluate what is the government doing, what the composition of the government is," Gallach said. "What we want is to help as much as possible the Palestinian president, the key interlocutor and somebody we have dealt with for a long time."
Switching the flow of money away from the government to Abbas' office would reverse the position taken by the EU when Yasser Arafat headed the Palestinian Authority and the bloc preferred to use its funding to strengthen the government. Some European officials are wary of such a move because it could alienate Palestinians who voted overwhelming for Hamas against Abbas' Fatah movement.
The EU has concurred with America's stance that funding a Hamas government will depend on it recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting the internationally backed peace process.
The Quartet group of Middle East peacemakers - the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the EU - agreed this week to support the interim government until Hamas takes over.
"We will continue to support the Palestinian Authority until the new government is formed and we have tried to find the necessary resources to do that," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after a telephone conference call that included UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lvrov.
Our false prophets stay stubborn in their "business image policies".
If the value of the aid we send them is worthless as per a cowardly act making it worthless, then it is not aid, it is at best hypocrisy (for money can only be protected in value with blood & warfare).
What they need, in my op;inion, is economic development, not subsidized government. Too bad they have scared away the billions pledged at the G8, but they really seem stuck on stupid. I think the West should squeeze them financially and make the Arabs step up to the plate. If they don't, evacuate anyone who will leave.
How can a "state" that has an industrial base of making bombs, an economic base of begging, and the only export is suicide bombers expect to accomplish anything?
Money ain't gonna buy you luv.
I can only hope that The Prez sticks to his guns on this one. But then, our government can be in a state of stupid sometimes when it comes to giving big bucks to our enemies. One such enemy that comes to mind is The United Nations.
" the US would not cut off financial aid to the PA, Israel Radio reported."
But they've already said they would!
Why should we buy weapons to kill Israelis? That's where the money undoubtedly goes.
Why in the hell are our tax dollars going to islamofacist scum? I think the American people need some real answers. The last time I checked, hamas WAS a TERROR organization.
"Why in the hell are our tax dollars going to islamofacist scum?"
To be fair, we don't know this for sure yet.
Kinda makes you wonder if the Foggy Bottom is a rogue operation or if the President just likes to look tough against terrorists in public and appease them in private.
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