Israel Rafalovich: MEPs Meet Palestinian Prime Minister
Brussels
Members of the European Parliament broke ranks with the European Commission and the European Council and met in Gaza with the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The European Commission, as well as the European Council, refuse to meet with any member of the Palestinian Unity Government who is a member of Hamas.
The group in the European Parliament included Mr. Chris Davies from the U.K. who is member of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament and who last year met with Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas after the European Union withdrew direct funding from the Palestinian Authority.
In a related matter, South Africa invited the Palestinian Prime Minister for an official visit. The invitation was issued by visiting South African Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, who met with Mr. Haniyeh.
Prime Minister Haniyeh accepted the invitation, but no date was set for the visit.
The South African government has been an early supporter of the new Palestinian Government.
A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry Mr. Mark Regev said that “inviting leaders of a movement still dedicated to Israel's destruction would entrench extremist positions”.
According to the spokesman, this move gave legitimacy and recognition to an unreformed extremist Hamas leadership.
The Palestinian Prime Minister may also pay an informal visit to Switzerland at the invitation of a civil society group.
MEP Call For End of Embargo
Brussels - Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to put an end to the aid embargo on the Palestinian government and resume direct payments that are suspended.
The European Union boycott includes a ban on meetings with Hamas officials.
The European Parliament delegation said in Gaza that it believes the program of the new Palestinian Government, that includes more moderate members of the Fatah Party, together with Hamas, does reflect international demands.
The European Parliamentarians urged the European Union to fully engage with the new Palestinian government and resume aid, in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the West Bank and Gaza.
In the meantime, according to E.U. officials, the European Union and the Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, agreed to start making regular partial payments to Palestinian government workers each month.
The coordinated payments that are expected to begin to flow into accounts within a matter of days would make it easier for Palestinian government workers to cope with the economic embargo, as they would receive more money on a schedule closer to a normal salary.
These coordinated payments could also help reduce political pressure on the Palestinian Finance Minister as well as the Palestinian government.
The European Union said last week, however, that the aid from the E.U. will continue to bypass the Palestinian government.
By the beginning of last week, the European Union led Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) will pay allowances to all the eligible Palestinian government workers and pensioners - about $370 each person - to coincide with the separate payments by Finance Minister Fayyad.
European Union officials said, that the money is scheduled to arrive in the bank accounts of government workers by the time payments are made by the Finance Minister.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Brussels
Members of the European Parliament broke ranks with the European Commission and the European Council and met in Gaza with the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The European Commission, as well as the European Council, refuse to meet with any member of the Palestinian Unity Government who is a member of Hamas.
The group in the European Parliament included Mr. Chris Davies from the U.K. who is member of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament and who last year met with Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas after the European Union withdrew direct funding from the Palestinian Authority.
In a related matter, South Africa invited the Palestinian Prime Minister for an official visit. The invitation was issued by visiting South African Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, who met with Mr. Haniyeh.
Prime Minister Haniyeh accepted the invitation, but no date was set for the visit.
The South African government has been an early supporter of the new Palestinian Government.
A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry Mr. Mark Regev said that “inviting leaders of a movement still dedicated to Israel's destruction would entrench extremist positions”.
According to the spokesman, this move gave legitimacy and recognition to an unreformed extremist Hamas leadership.
The Palestinian Prime Minister may also pay an informal visit to Switzerland at the invitation of a civil society group.
MEP Call For End of Embargo
Brussels - Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to put an end to the aid embargo on the Palestinian government and resume direct payments that are suspended.
The European Union boycott includes a ban on meetings with Hamas officials.
The European Parliament delegation said in Gaza that it believes the program of the new Palestinian Government, that includes more moderate members of the Fatah Party, together with Hamas, does reflect international demands.
The European Parliamentarians urged the European Union to fully engage with the new Palestinian government and resume aid, in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the West Bank and Gaza.
In the meantime, according to E.U. officials, the European Union and the Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, agreed to start making regular partial payments to Palestinian government workers each month.
The coordinated payments that are expected to begin to flow into accounts within a matter of days would make it easier for Palestinian government workers to cope with the economic embargo, as they would receive more money on a schedule closer to a normal salary.
These coordinated payments could also help reduce political pressure on the Palestinian Finance Minister as well as the Palestinian government.
The European Union said last week, however, that the aid from the E.U. will continue to bypass the Palestinian government.
By the beginning of last week, the European Union led Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) will pay allowances to all the eligible Palestinian government workers and pensioners - about $370 each person - to coincide with the separate payments by Finance Minister Fayyad.
European Union officials said, that the money is scheduled to arrive in the bank accounts of government workers by the time payments are made by the Finance Minister.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report