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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner briefing the press following their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday. (Reuters)
Last update - 14:16 28/02/2007
EU official: Quartet still united on demands of PA unity government
By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press

Visiting European Union external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said Wednesday there is no discord within the Quartet of Mideast peace makers on its demands of the Palestinian unity government, despite recent signs of divisions.

The United States, EU, Russia and United Nations make up the Quartet, which has said the Palestinians must renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past agreements.

The new power-sharing deal between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements, reached in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, only pledges to respect past peace deals, falling short of the international conditions.
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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, says the deal is the best he can get from Hamas.

While the U.S. and EU have reacted with skepticism, Russia has been more positive about the power-sharing deal. Russia this week hosted Hamas' top leader Khaled Meshal, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for international support for the arrangement and for lifting the aid blockade.

Ferrero-Waldner, who was meeting with Palestinian officials in the West Bank on Wednesday, said the new government needs to respond to the Quartet principles.

The EU and U.S. - the two largest donors to the Palestinians - are waiting until a new government is formed before deciding whether to resume direct aid.

However, in talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials, Ferrero-Waldner has made clear the EU will likely not pull the plug on an emergency aid program that provides relief for some 900,000 Palestinians.

"We have never abandoned the Palestinian people," said Ferrero-Waldner and made clear the EU would not do so in the foreseeable future.

The EU replaced direct aid to the Palestinian government last year with its Temporary International Mechanism, which sends humanitarian aid to the Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas government.

The sanctions, along with an Israeli cutoff in tax transfers to the Palestinians, have left the government unable to pay the salaries of its 165,000 workers.

The alternative World Bank-monitored program has delivered $331 million to thousands of unpaid civil servants, retirees and social hardship cases and in payments for fuel to generate power.

That aid, along with continued EU support for UN and relief organizations meant that in 2006, the EU and its member states actually gave more aid to the Palestinian than in an average year: $926.1 million compared to $661.5 million.

Ferrero said by continuing assistance to the Palestinians we are trying to keep the situation somewhat under control. She said the EU was keen to engage the Palestinians in the months by launching good governance and other programs.

The temporary aid scheme began operating September 1, on a renewable, three-month basis. The current payment period expires March 31, unless it is renewed.

On Tuesday, Ferrero-Waldner visited a 163-bed Ramallah hospital that employs almost 400 doctors, nurses and support staff that all receive about NIS 1,500 to NIS 2,000 shekels in irregular payments, officials said.

EU says Israel's indecision is clouding bilateral relations
Israel's indecisiveness toward the European Union is clouding the future of bilateral relations, the EU commissioner for external relations said in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

"EU-Israel relations cannot yet fulfill their potential because the path ahead is not clear," Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a speech at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

"We strongly sense that Israel has not yet made up its mind how to work with us  not surprising given the EU's complexity and its multifaceted identity."

Ferrero-Waldner spent a day in Israel, finishing her visit here Tuesday and is continuing on Wednesday to Ramallah and Jordan. She will meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

The commissioner said the EU is interested in deepening its economic ties with Israel, developing stronger cooperation on energy and transportation issues and increasing the exchanges between business people, academics, local authorities, artists and young people.

Ferrero-Waldner staked out an ambiguous position on recognizing a Palestinian unity government, saying the EU hoped the future Palestinian government will respond to the principles of peace put forward by President Abbas and by the Quartet. "We will judge this government by its actions," she said.

Later in the day, the commissioner told Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni that the Mecca agreement on the unity government has helped prevent further violence in the territories.

Livni said Israel doesn't want to see wars either, but that continued pressure must be exerted on the extremists to advance the diplomatic process.
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  1.   I hear what Livni wants.. 05:02  |  Dom 28/02/07
  2.   don`t know if can trust the eu. has very bad record 05:43  |  ralph 28/02/07
  3.   Perhaps, if Europes`s attitude towards Israel were different over 06:29  |  Nadav 28/02/07
  4.   EU 07:06  |  Roxy 28/02/07
  5.   As a European, I look forward to the day Israel 09:05  |  Petra 28/02/07
  6.   Blame first, think later 09:05  |  Dani Reiss 28/02/07
  7.   With the EU acting as Eurabia, we can`t risk it 09:09  |  David Teich 28/02/07
  8.   EU indecisiveness 09:10  |  Shlomo from Tel Aviv 28/02/07
  9.   What about Occupation & Human Rights? 09:25  |  PalWatch 28/02/07
  10.   Who needs Israel? Invite the PA first. 09:44  |  Andreas 28/02/07
  11.   Kadima`s indecision is pervasive, endemic 10:07  |  sh 28/02/07
  12.   EU is losing its spirit 10:11  |  Gérard 28/02/07
  13.   Israel will most probably never be part of the EU, but........ 10:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/02/07
  14.   HOW SURPRISING THE EU IS A MESS BUT IGNORES IT ! 10:31  |  paul harris 28/02/07
  15.   #11 IT MATCHES EU POLICY EXACTLY 10:32  |  paul harris 28/02/07
  16.   Gerrard & the EU 10:36  |  Contemplative 28/02/07
  17.   Olmert - true to form ! Indecisive ! A definite maybe ! 10:54  |  redmike 28/02/07
  18.   # 13 Just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding..... 10:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/02/07
  19.   Nadav 11:01  |  Contemplative 28/02/07
  20.   EU SHOULD GO IT ALONE 11:07  |  indrajaya 28/02/07
  21.   Israel: EU`s indecisiveness is clouding bilateral relations 11:22  |  Judith, Haifa 28/02/07
  22.   Livnispeak 11:25  |  JU 28/02/07
  23.   Horrified by double standards. 11:27  |  Deborah 28/02/07
  24.   Who cannot make up his mind here? 11:36  |  Ehud 28/02/07
  25.   Actually it does not matter at all.... 12:01  |  Fritz 28/02/07
  26.   Then stay at home, autrichienne! 12:23  |  christoph 28/02/07
  27.   We Dont Want It. 12:27  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  28.   re: Nadav #3 12:32  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  29.   re: Petra #5 12:34  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  30.   re: Shlomo #8 12:37  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  31.   Fritz from Germany # 25 12:38  |  Vera 28/02/07
  32.   re: Paul #14 12:43  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  33.   What Israel wants? 12:45  |  ScotGuy 28/02/07
  34.   re: Gerard #12 12:48  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  35.   Gerard 13:05  |  Lynn 28/02/07
  36.   Israel must walk a fine careful line 13:05  |  Ronnie Wolman 28/02/07
  37.   Indrajaya 13:10  |  Lynn 28/02/07
  38.   Hi, Paulo, are you still around? I thought you 13:10  |  Petra 28/02/07
  39.   Swiss 13:12  |  Lynn 28/02/07
  40.   to 5 correct, especially me an Italian with Palestinian origins.. 13:17  |  Michele 28/02/07
  41.   #13 swiss 13:23  |  duncan 28/02/07
  42.   The EU does not need Israel... 13:32  |  Stephen Murray 28/02/07
  43.   #31, Vera 13:44  |  Fritz 28/02/07
  44.   whats the point???? 13:59  |  alonitzafoni 28/02/07
  45.   Fritz # 42 regarding different standards to Jews 14:00  |  Vera 28/02/07
  46.   we dont want it either paolo!!!! 14:01  |  alonitzafoni 28/02/07
  47.   re: Petra #38 14:09  |  Paulo 28/02/07
  48.   Complex Relationship 14:14  |  Ilan 28/02/07
  49.   42 - Israel has many Accomplishments 14:33  |  Bruriah Sarah 28/02/07
  50.   Of course Palestinians shouldn`t starve 14:35  |  Roberta 28/02/07
  51.   33 - Its not about the land 14:37  |  Bruriah Sarah 28/02/07
  52.   36 - Do you see ourselves as Grasshoppers? 14:42  |  Bruriah Sarah 28/02/07
  53.   You see, Paulo, after so many words that 14:43  |  Petra 28/02/07
  54.   Paulo, the inquisition man 14:45  |  ScotGuy 28/02/07
  55.   SMURRAY"The EU does not need Israel" Shame they forgot to ask you 14:56  |  PETER SM 28/02/07
  56.   Nothings changed either they are responsibile or they are not 14:56  |  Ronnie Wolman 28/02/07
  57.   to Ftitz from Germany: It is a bad habit to call small countries 14:58  |  Vittorio 28/02/07
  58.   #32 PAULO WHAT ABOUT MY $5 BILLION 15:08  |  paul harris 28/02/07
  59.   Joining the NATO would bring more advantage to Israel, than ..... 15:09  |  Vittorio 28/02/07
  60.   @ Petra #53 15:14  |  René Fries 28/02/07
  61.   hmmm... 15:21  |  Aaaron 28/02/07
  62.   #23, this is about bahavior - not race 15:30  |  Agnon 28/02/07
  63.   42# 15:47  |  alonitzafoni 28/02/07
  64.   The Quartet is asking for the impossible 15:50  |  Clickfool 28/02/07
  65.   why not team up with india & brazil?? 15:50  |  alonitzafonie 28/02/07
  66.   dream on.. #56 15:52  |  Gilad 28/02/07
  67.   Hello Ren Fries of Belgium about Paulo 16:02  |  Petra 28/02/07
  68.   # 41 duncan 16:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/02/07
  69.   # 39 Lynn 16:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/02/07
  70.   to the proud fool 16:16  |  Des 28/02/07
  71.