The European Union has announced that it is temporarily cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority due to the refusal of the militant group Hamas to meet the three conditions it laid out after the group won January's elections.
'For the time being, there are no payments to or through the Palestinian Authority,' Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin announced.
Hamas has yet to meet any of the conditions which included recognizing Israel's right to exist, renouncing violence and accepting the legitimacy of past agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking in Prague, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed concern about Hamas' refusal to give up terrorism and said European governments had to proceed with caution. 'Therefore, we have to prepare some changes in terms of financing,' he said.
The changes will not effect humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people but will cut off monies being paid directly to the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Naser al-Shaer said the E.U. had to stop repeating a 'broken record' and enter into negotiations with Hamas if it wanted the group to change its position on Israel.
'They have been repeating this broken record on the issue of recognizing Israel and renouncing violence,' al-Shaer told Reuters. 'Despite all our appeals to open dialogue with them, they did not change. If they want something, they have to negotiate with us, talk to us,' he said.
The European Union is the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority. The amount that was about to be received was reported at $30 million euros or approximately $35 million.
Some Hamas spokesman have made vague statements about Palestinians 'existing in peace with their neighbors' and referring to an interim 'two-state solution' but these were later retracted in the Arab press and the speakers denied they represented any change in policy by Hamas.
It remains to be seen if the responsibility of governing and international pressure has any effect on the stance of Hamas. For now, Hamas remains dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
