EU ministers to endorse freeze on aid to Hamas-led govt

European Union foreign ministers were today expected to give firm backing to a freeze on EU aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, but stressed they would seek alternative ways of providing money for humanitarian projects.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Europe continued to “stand by the Palestinian people” and would provide money for electricity, food, education and other projects, so “their basic human needs will be met in the future”.

She reiterated that if the new Palestinian leadership wanted to see all aid resumed, the Islamic militant Hamas must “renounce violence, recognise the existence of Israel and also stand by the agreements” previous Palestinian governments had signed with Israel.

In a draft of a statement to be issued later today, the EU said it “noted with grave concern that the programme of the new Palestinian government does not contain a clear commitment to (these) three principles.”

It urged Hamas to commit to peace and thus “further the Palestinian people’s aspirations to peace and statehood”, said the draft statement.

The European Union said it had frozen direct aid to the Hamas-led government because of its refusal to meet such demands.

Aid to the Palestinians from the EU and its 25 member nations totals €500m a year. Funds that have been suspended amount to about half of that, while the remainder comes from bilateral programmes between governments.

Several EU nations have frozen their direct aid to the new Palestinian government. More may follow suit.

The United States, Canada and non-EU member Norway have also cut off payments. Hamas has condemned the suspension of aid as unfair, but has not changed its stance on Israel and previous agreements.