EU set to extend Palestinain aid mechanism

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

BRUSSELS, Dec 11 (Reuters) The European Union was set today to extend an aid mechanism that has channelled more than 200 million euros (4 million) to Palestinians while bypassing Hamas, and to call again on Israel to release customs revenues.

The EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed hope a ceasefire in Gaza would hold but said it was necessary to extend the mechanism because conditions for people in the Palestinian Territories had continued to deteriorate.

''Today we have to propose another extension to the Temporary International Mechanism for a further three months beyond the end of this year,'' she told a news briefing during a meeting of EU foreign ministers expected to endorse the recommendation.

''We see that the situation is deteriorating...at this very moment this is the only way to really assist the population.'' The aid mechanism was launched in June to assist Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas-led government.

EU officials say it has provided access to water, health services and sanitation to 1.3 million Palestinians and paid allowances to around a million people. Fourteen EU states, the EU's executive Commission and Norway have contributed.

Ferrero-Waldner reiterated a call on Israel to release hundreds of millions of dollars of Palestinian customs revenues it has been withholding since Hamas came to power in March.

She said it remained unclear whether the Palestinian Territories would see a new election or a Government of National Unity, but the EU stood ready to assist a government reflecting the principles of the Quartet of Middle East mediators.

The Quartet -- the EU, the United States, Russia and the United Nations -- has called on Hamas to recognise Israel's right to exist and commit to peace and the European Union has made these conditions for resuming direct aid to the government suspended after Hamas's January election victory.

Political tensions have risen over the failure of Hamas and the formerly dominant Fatah to form a unity government and aides to President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday he planned to call early elections after talks foundered.

REUTERS BDP RN1817

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X