US warns against ending sanctions on Palestinian Authority

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Thursday September 14, 2006

Washington- The United States urged the European Union on Thursday to keep the boycott on aid to the Palestinian Authority in place until the emerging unity government recognizes Israel's right to exist and renounces violence. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also said a unified government must accept previous peace agreements under the three demands outlined by the Middle East quartet, which consists of the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States.

"At this point, we don't see any qualitative change in the situation vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority and its policies and, therefore, whether or not it meets the conditions laid out by the quartet in its London statement," McCormack said. "So we would expect that the status quo as it stands should be unchanged."

The United States and European Union suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas took the reigns of government in March. The United States and European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organization seeking the destruction of Israel.

The European Union hinted that it could begin the process of lifting the sanctions on government aid at a meeting Friday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas have agreed in principle to form a unity government that would include Abbas' Fatah party, but they have still not spelled out their policy on international demands.

The severing of financial aid has severely hampered the Palestinian Authority even though Washington and Brussels have continued to fund humanitarian needs through non-government organizations.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur