By Brian Johnson - 30th January 2006
EU foreign ministers have said they will give Hamas time to reconsider its violent opposition to Israel before cutting off financial aid.
Meeting in Brussels on Monday for the first time since Hamas won an unexpected victory in last week’s Palestinian elections, EU foreign ministers promised to assist the Palestinians as long as they stayed committed to a peaceful and negotiated settlement with Israel.
“We urge Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel’s right to exist and to disarm,” Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plasnik, told journalists.
Plasnik said the EU was aware of the Palestinian Authority’s difficult financial situation – Israel has suspended the transfer of around €35 m in tax receipts to the Palestinian Authority because of the Hamas victory.
“We think that everybody should make a concerted effort, so the Palestinian Authority can function,” said Plasnik.
“That means Israel has to do its bit, the Arabs also have to come in and [the EU] will also have to take responsibility.”
Plasnik said EU ministers had not discussed the time frame, for Hamas’ period of reflection, but it is understood that it could be as long as three months.
“We continue to make clear [to Hamas] what our expectations are as we have voiced them for the newly elected legislative council; a government committed to a peaceful and negotiated conclusion to the conflict with Israel,” said Plasnik.
“On this basis the EU stands ready to support the Palestinian state.”
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana denied that the EU’s call for Hamas to lay down its arms and recognise Israel was over-optimistic.
It is very difficult…but we’re not asking for something absurd, we are asking for something very rational,” said Solana.
“We need to set a course that is fundamental if they [Hamas] want to be helped by the international community.”
“All the ideas that we have put on the table have been around for a long time, so I think it’s reasonable to put these ideas and sentiments from the international community publicly so [Hamas] understands very well the position we have.
EU foreign policy chiefs will also meet with their US counterparts on Monday night in London.
The so-called quartet of the US, Russia, UN and EU are looking to see if the Middle East ‘roadmap to peace’ process can be salvaged.
The US has also said publicly that it will not deal with Hamas unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel.
“If they don’t we won’t deal with them,” said US President George W. Bush last week, warning that “aid packages won’t go forward.”
US Secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice is expected to exert strong pressure on the EU to back a tough stance on Hamas.
Rice warned on Sunday that a Hamas “cannot have one foot in politics and the other in terror.”
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.