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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni speaking with European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana during a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (AP)
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Israel to EU: We oppose giving political role to PA donor states
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel has sent a message to the European Union saying it opposes an initiative to form an umbrella group by countries who provide aid to the Palestinian Authority.

In a meeting with EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana last Wednesday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni pressed Israel would resist an attempt to institutionalize the status of the so-called "donor states" including 12 Western nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Since the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were signed in 1993, the said donor states have transferred billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and helped revive the ailing Palestinian economy.
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Norway, who heads the donor group, has called a meeting of the members to be held in September, and a follow-up meeting in December.

Livni's message to Solana stems from information recently learned by the Foreign Ministry which indicates that Norway, a country which holds an independent political stance on Palestinian issues, will try to turn the donor state conference into an event aimed at exerting political pressure on Israel.

Israel has long been dissatisfied with Norway's policies in the region, especially since it was the first nation to renew aid to the Palestinian unity government, which included the militant Islamic party Hamas. The West had declared an economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority when Hamas rose to power in March 2006, and by donating funds to the unity government, Norway in essence violated the embargo. Norway is also one of the only European nations who openly conduct direct ties with Hamas.

Senior officials from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry are scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday for talks on the issue.

Livni asked Solana during their meeting last week to instruct the donor states to focus only on infrastructure and economy-related issues, especially in the West Bank, in order to improve the lives of the Palestinian people. Livni said that Israel does not want the donor states to become a political body that deals with issues such as a final status solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli officials believe that the body's involvement in such political issues would only not only hinder the peace process, but also diminish the group's ability to provide assistance to the Palestinian people.

Livni reiterated the importance of ensuring that donated funds don't reach Hamas.

United States President George W. Bush called on the donor states to renew their activity in a major policy speech he gave last week. He urged the donor states to bolster the Palestinian interim government, established by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas following Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza last month
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  1.   Many helpers, but need to switch roles 22:33  |  Tosefta 21/07/07
  2.   Norway Can Show Us By Example: Take Palestinians 23:16  |  Yoram 21/07/07
  3.   They`re giving aid to Palestinians, let them pressure THEM 23:35  |  McQueen 21/07/07
  4.   No-one takes Livni seriously except herself. They won`t listen! 23:46  |  Nannette 21/07/07
  5.   Noway and Sri Lanka 23:59  |  Daniel Abrams 21/07/07
  6.   NORWAY 00:03  |  Brant 22/07/07
  7.   Norwegians disgusted with Norway 00:32  |  Terje 22/07/07
  8.   Was this not part of the Bush unPlan? 00:32  |  Mark Lincoln 22/07/07
  9.   Norwegean Naivety 00:32  |  Barry 22/07/07
  10.   Nr 6. Brant 00:47  |  Philistea 22/07/07
  11.   Norwegian Quislings / Antisemitism 00:48  |  Semsem 22/07/07
  12.   Livni..Alice in wonderlands 01:01  |  Norwegian. 22/07/07
  13.   Norway 01:02  |  Observer 22/07/07
  14.   This is why Israel must be boycotted 01:07  |  Rachel C. 22/07/07
  15.   No Surprise 01:08  |  Paulo 22/07/07
  16.   awful 01:16  |  embarrased Norwegian 22/07/07
  17.   Norway not in EU 01:40  |  Jeff 22/07/07
  18.   Good for Norway 01:58  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  19.   #11, Semsem 02:05  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  20.   PHIILISTEA 02:11  |  Brant 22/07/07
  21.   Let them learn their lesson! 02:17  |  Sens 22/07/07
  22.   #11 Semsem 02:29  |  Norseman 22/07/07
  23.   The Breath-taking Cynicism Of Israel On Peace Negotiations 02:39  |  chet 22/07/07
  24.   How Can Norway Head the Donor Group? 02:42  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/07
  25.   to # 15, Paul from Lisbon 03:06  |  ricardo levy 22/07/07
  26.   BEAUTIFUL NORWAY: Free from zionism 03:08  |  nobodysacred 22/07/07
  27.   Paulo # 15 What`s Illegal About It? 03:17  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/07
  28.   17 author and Livni not saying norway is in eu 03:29  |  bernard ross 22/07/07
  29.   Norway 03:41  |  Karl Enright 22/07/07
  30.   No Norwegian Sardines to Israel 03:43  |  ottomatik 22/07/07
  31.   hannah ignorant 03:48  |  embarrased Norwegian 22/07/07
  32.   Donor Country Interests 03:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/07/07
  33.   Norway if free. 03:57  |  Maureen Ann 22/07/07
  34.   #18, Hannah 04:18  |  Silvienne 22/07/07
  35.   lets also stop US and EU to give money to israel 04:33  |  cristina 22/07/07
  36.   26 Jeff Northridge - Theory and Practice 04:36  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/07/07
  37.   #30, Embarrassed Norwegian 05:39  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  38.   #34, Sylvienne 05:41  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  39.   #34, Sylvienne 06:01  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  40.   Mark of Lewiston # 36 You Miss the Point 06:42  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/07
  41.   #24, Jeff Northridge 06:55  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  42.   It is in Israel`s power to stop Norways`s "donation", why beg EU? 07:16  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/07/07
  43.   re: Ricardo 07:26  |  Paulo 22/07/07
  44.   # 24 Jeff Northridge. Norway is showing moral leadership. 07:36  |  Nick Ferriman 22/07/07
  45.   re: Jeff 07:36  |  Paulo 22/07/07
  46.   Donor`s "On" to Israeli Stalling Strategy 07:39  |  Double Click 22/07/07
  47.   40 Jeff Northridge - Maybe So 07:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/07/07
  48.   # 27 Jeff Northridge. It is utterly illegal. 08:17  |  Nick Ferriman 22/07/07
  49.   # 47 Mark of Lewiston 08:28  |  Nick Ferriman 22/07/07
  50.   #14, rachel c. 08:31  |  Donna 22/07/07
  51.   Thank You Norway 08:39  |  Faisal 22/07/07
  52.   Norway, Arabs and other antisemites kill another agreement 09:59  |  David Teich 22/07/07
  53.   Idiculous stipulation...... 10:15  |  Esther 22/07/07
  54.   israel to eu 10:38  |  Horton 22/07/07
  55.   Unconditional Allowance 10:53  |  Kate 22/07/07
  56.   suggesting to norway 10:53  |  scanadu 22/07/07
  57.   Israel to EU 11:15  |  khader Herzallah 22/07/07
  58.   subtle israeli tactics continue unchecked! 11:43  |  eric 22/07/07
  59.   Hand out and shut up! 11:53  |  Raymond Deane 22/07/07
  60.   Racism in Norway (to Hannah) 11:56  |  Jean-Paul DOGUET 22/07/07
  61.   #49 Nick Ferriman 12:00  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  62.   Ailing Palestinian economy? no such thing 12:06  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  63.   Europe should never be trusted 12:29  |  Jonathan S 22/07/07
  64.   #59, Jean-Paul DOGUET 12:36  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  65.   Hannah and Tzfonit: My Dream I 12:53  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  66.   Hannah and Tzfonit II 13:02  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  67.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #61, #62 13:09  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  68.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #61, #62 13:09  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  69.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #61, #62 13:09  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  70.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #61, #62 13:09  |  Hannah 22/07/07
  71.   Hamas acquired advanced high-tech weapons; where the money from? 13:15  |  Alicia 22/07/07
  72.   Hannah and Tzfonit:Dreams III 13:27  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  73.   Hannah and Tzfonit: Find One,Just One 13:38  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  74.   There are two Hannahs; the Pal Hannah is Hannele-use that name pl 13:46  |  Alicia 22/07/07
  75.   Hannah and Tzfonit: Is there One Arab Out There???? 13:46  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  76.   # 77 Ronnie´s Ethos 14:45  |  Alicia 22/07/07
  77.   "54" KateLabhras 14:55  |  Labhras 22/07/07
  78.   Alicia: Koran and Kurrent Affairs 14:59  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  79.   "30" ottomatik 15:06  |  Labhras 22/07/07
  80.   To the Fake Hannah: About Luttwak 15:06  |  Ronnie Wolman 22/07/07
  81.   typical Israeli arrogance 15:07  |  Deborah 22/07/07
  82.   #27 we have more total bilge from nick 15:07