Posted on 06/16/2006 10:12:00 PM PDT by Esther Ruth
Rice says U.S. close to deal on EU's Palestinian aid plan
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday the United States was close to reaching a "substantial agreement" with the European Union on an international aid plan for the Palestinians.
Earlier Friday, EU leaders endorsed a plan to channel aid payments to Palestinians focusing on health, social services and utilities such as heating and sanitation, while maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government.
A final statement from the EU summit said the 25-member bloc "stands ready to contribute a substantial amount to the international mechanism," which would channel aid to the Palestinians but bypass Hamas.
The EU has said it wants to have the funding mechanism up and running by the end of June.
The EU statement said the plan had been drawn up in consultation with the U.S., Russia and the United Nations, who agreed with the EU in May that a mechanism had to be found to keep the Palestinian economy afloat after most international aid was cut off following Hamas' January election win.
"We have done this of course together with our partners," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters. "We have tried to find a solution with which everybody can live."
There was no mention in the statement of the payment of salaries to Palestinian government workers - which is opposed by Israel - but it did refer to "social allowances" which EU officials said would entail payments to some public employees.
The EU urged Israel to resume the transfer of more than $50 million in monthly tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
Those funds are "essential in averting a crisis in the Palestinian territories," the draft EU statement said.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
In a message to the Israelis, the EU condemned violence against Palestinian civilians and urged a halt to "any action that threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution and from acts that are contrary to international law." The statement referred in particular to the construction of Israel's West Bank security barrier and Jewish settlements in the area.
Does Israel get another shipment of Vaseline with this deal?
How bout they just drop food and medicine.
Ping
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Shouldn't they be giving that message to Palestinians that put mines on beaches that blow up kids?
Stick it up your ying-yang, EU.
Ok. But only from a really really high altitude.
For the food, may I suggest frozen turkeys.
:)
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