EU sees Palestinian plans as ‘step forward’

Palestinian proposals due to be put to referendum next month would represent a ‘step forward’ EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has said.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is urging Hamas to accept a document that implicitly recognises Israel.

If his attempts fail the proposals will be put to national referendum on July 26.

“The national dialogue is very important and we hope President Abbas will come up with either an agreement of the Palestinian people will decide in a referendum,” Ferrero-Waldner said on Tuesday following talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

“We are not happy with all of the points [in the document] but it would be a step forward.”

Ferrero-Waldner was meeting officials to discuss implementation of a €100m package of EU aid.

EU funds would be channelled directly to the Palestinian people – by-passing the Palestinian Authority (PA).

International donors suspended direct aid to the PA when Hamas came to power in January.

Abbas hopes his document could put an end to the international boycott and allow the Palestinian territories to move forward.

But the Israeli government has dismissed the plans because they do not explicitly recognise Israel.

The package also refers to the Palestinian’s continued right to resistance and supports the right of return of refugees.

“I do not think we could agree to that document,” the EU commissioner added.

“We would have to see a new government and what its policies are.”

If Abbas persuades the Hamas led administration to agree to the document it is possible that a new government of national unity could be formed in the months ahead.

But Hamas is reported to be resisting suggestions that it should give up power.

And while recent polls suggest 85 per cent of Palestinians would support the establishment of a new government, only 47 percent said they would vote in favour of the document if a referendum were held on it today.

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