Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 24, 2008 Adar1 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:03 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 15:54 21/02/2008
Livni: Palestinian people have no future under Hamas rule
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: european union, gaza strip 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday that the Palestinian people had no future under Hamas, adding that Israel would continue its campaign against the terror created by the Islamist group.

Livni met Thursday with her Romanian counterpart, amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its handling of the situation in the Gaza Strip.

"Europe must internalize that Hamas is not an organization interested in the establishment of a Palestinian state," Livni said, following the talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu. "It is not asking for Palestinian rights, but rather wants to take rights away from others."
Advertisement
She added: "All the indirect support for Hamas - even if nade through discussions on opening border crossings or on the humanitarian situation - only weakens those interested in reaching an agreement.

Livni's comments came after Ran Koriel, Israel's European Union ambassador, warned the Foreign Ministry of a change in EU policy on Hamas due to the Gaza crisis.

The government has recently been getting strong signals that both the U.S. and Europe are deeply frustrated by lack of progress in negotiations with the Palestinians.

Envoys of the Quartet on the Middle East convened in Berlin on February 11 to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). David Welch, top Middle East aide to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Mark Otte, the European Union peace envoy; UN Middle East envoy Robery Serry; and Russian envoy to the Middle East Sergei Yakovlev took part in the meeting.

In the last week, a number of Israeli ambassadors in European capitals sent classified telegrams about the meeting's contents, some of which reached Haaretz.

Serry criticized Israel at the outset of the meeting. "We are deeply concerned over the situation in Gaza, especially from the humanitarian perspective," he said. "We must find a fast solution to this situation."

He said that due to Israel's siege, "even the UN's teams have difficulty entering and leaving Gaza to give aid."

Welch, who joined the criticism of Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip, said the United States was not comfortable with Israel's approach to Gaza, and presented the American goals regarding the Israelis and Palestinians. "First we must not allow the suicide bombing in Dimona and shooting on Sderot to affect the negotiations," he said.

"It is also important to us that neither the Palestinians in Gaza nor the Israelis in Sderot are hurt. Also, we must continue to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad."

Welch added that the Quartet must demand that Israel open the border passes with the Gaza Strip.

Otte was even more blunt. "Not only is nothing improving on the ground, but Israel's behavior is getting worse, and it's failing to carry out its obligations on the road map," he said.

"There seem to be no significant progress in the peace process," he said.

He noted that Israel had decided to extend by six months the order to shut down PA institutions in East Jerusalem. "We must consider a change of policy in everything regarding Gaza," he said.

Yakovlev said that Russia believes the Palestinians must once again set up a national unity government, which Israel strongly objects to. Without a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, "the Gaza Strip will be a time bomb that will kill the Annapolis process," he said.

Israel had been expecting a demarche from the EU making clear Brussels' disapproval of its actions in the Gaza Strip. A concentrated diplomatic offensive by Israel's ambassadors in Europe managed to stall the initiative for the moment. "However," said a source in Jerusalem, "Israel is living on borrowed time regarding international legitimacy for what is going on in Gaza."

Israel and the United States recently managed to thwart Switzerland's initiative for an international gathering to propose a plan to open the border passes to the Gaza Strip. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner demanded of Defense Minister Ehud Barak in the past two weeks to open the border passes in the Strip.

Barak was forced to give in and allow a partial opening of the passes so that cement could be brought into Gaza. Barak heard similar demands during his visit to Turkey about a week ago. He agreed to Turkey's request to enable Turkish humanitarian aid to be brought into Gaza on a one-time basis.

In addition to these troubling reports, Ran Koriel sent a sharp telegram to the Foreign Ministry warning of an overall European policy change toward Israel and the PA, which could even lead to a recognition of Hamas.

"Despite the suspension [of the demarche], note the growing discomfort in Europe over the situation in the Gaza Strip," wrote Koriel.

He said that in recent weeks he received reports that the French government was reexamining its attitude toward Hamas. Senior EU officials had been heard denouncing Israel's actions in Gaza, and a number of decisions on the issue had been passed in various European parliaments.

"This activity is in keeping with the European culture espousing concern for humanitarian issues," Koriel wrote. "It is even graver in view of the feeling in Europe that Israel and the Palestinians are not succeeding in changing the situation on the ground and not progressing in the peace talks."

Related articles:
  • EU envoy warns Gaza could become the next Somalia
  • EU warns Israel not to impose 'collective punishment' in Gaza
  • EU scales back Gaza-Egypt border monitoring mission
  • EU urges Israel to reconsider cuts to Gaza energy supply
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Auschwitz gimmick
    U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick.
    5 Stops in Galilee
    Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.
      1.   What`s Israel afraid of, that peace might break out? 03:44  |  peacelover 21/02/08
      2.   End the vile siege,you rotters! Gaza has entered its third full 03:48  |  lakshmi 21/02/08
      3.   Israel`s actions towards Gaza have been criminal 04:03  |  POP 21/02/08
      4.   No Balls 04:10  |  real vision 21/02/08
      5.   Peace With Whom? 04:14  |  Brad 21/02/08
      6.   life in gaza 04:14  |  realvision 21/02/08
      7.   Lakshmi 04:15  |  Brad 21/02/08
      8.   LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE OF GAZA! 04:19  |  JH 21/02/08
      9.   Look Whose Calling the Kettle Black: Question 04:19  |  Brad 21/02/08
      10.   Pops actions are an insult to humans 04:21  |  Darwin 21/02/08
      11.   What about Palestinians responsibility? 04:26  |  James 21/02/08
      12.   Palestinians never wanted peace! 04:38  |  DR 21/02/08
      13.   Gaza gets what it deserves. 04:42  |  Stephen in New York 21/02/08
      14.   Golly, it sure was hot dog and to the point, don`t you think? 04:43  |  ballistic 21/02/08
      15.   All YOu Warmongers_ The Siege Will End When You Stop Your 04:43  |  Eli 21/02/08
      16.   Israel fears sanity in Europe 04:50  |  Mark Lincoln 21/02/08
      17.   #4 Gee, are there a lot of people who think like you? 04:51  |  ballistic 21/02/08
      18.   Good goin` EU, reward terrorism, just what Hamas wants 04:52  |  Conroy 21/02/08
      19.   7589 H*ll Leningrad did that in 10 minutes RIGHT ??? 04:56  |  M. S. 21/02/08
      20.   Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas 05:05  |  Walt 21/02/08
      21.   Europe`s lack of interest in progressing with Arabs tells us all 05:08  |  Ignacio 21/02/08
      22.   No word of what Arabs are doing wrong 05:10  |  Ahmed 21/02/08
      23.   The winds are changing, feel it? 05:30  |  spyguy 21/02/08
      24.   Israel fears its own shadows -evict all the illegal Pals 05:31  |  Sal 21/02/08
      25.   EU`s money where their mouths are 05:44  |  Shimon List 21/02/08
      26.   #2 Lakshmi. Any other nation would have levelled Gaza by now. 06:09  |  Chaim 21/02/08
      27.   #1 - Israel Does Fear Peace As War is Central to its Expansion 06:12  |  Johan Odin 21/02/08
      28.   Response to 1 06:16  |  B. 21/02/08
      29.   response to 6 06:16  |  B. 21/02/08
      30.   What about the Gaza Missiles Falling On Sederot 06:20  |  Elizabeth 21/02/08
      31.   "Israel Fears..." 06:24  |  ZADOK 21/02/08
      32.   Trying to force thier agendas who cares? 06:46  |  Levi 21/02/08
      33.   Why not a urgent solution for Darfur? 06:46  |  B (The other one) 21/02/08
      34.   Listen to the words, and listen to who is mouthing them 07:07  |  Johnboy 21/02/08
      35.   Europe! Is That The Warmongering People Who Have 07:20  |  Eli 21/02/08
      36.   Will the U.K. be the first Islamic country of West Europe ? 07:23  |  Jean Van Daem 21/02/08
      37.   Level Gaza and F..k Europe All At The Same Time 07:24  |  Eli 21/02/08
      38.   But it is all right if Egypt blocks Gaza RIGHT ??? 07:27  |  M. S. 21/02/08
      39.   level gaza now and invade a desert 07:30  |  randi 21/02/08
      40.   food only for weapons 07:31  |  randi 21/02/08
      41.   Johan Odin of Norway, Well Said 07:32  |  Maki 21/02/08
      42.   water only for weapons 07:33  |  randi 21/02/08
      43.   fuel only for weapons 07:34  |  randi 21/02/08
      44.   electricity only for weapons 07:36  |  randi 21/02/08
      45.   for 1 israeli 500 arabs? 07:38  |  randi 21/02/08
      46.   STILL DON`T GET IT, ISRAEL, TWO YEARS AFTER THE LEBANON`s LOST 07:38  |  indrajaya 21/02/08
      47.   for 1 rocket on sderot 500 on gaza 07:39  |  randi 21/02/08
      48.   Johan Odin of Norway, Well Said 07:46  |  Maki 21/02/08
      49.   #9 Brad asks some questions 07:49  |  Johnboy 21/02/08
      50.   Mixing metaphors 08:00  |  Natallie Durson 21/02/08
      51.   Only when you have completed your 08:05  |  Kris 21/02/08
      52.   Eurocrats are making idle threats 08:06  |  B (The other one) 21/02/08
      53.   Tell Me Johnboy From Sydney_ Are All Aussies Imbeciles Like 08:24  |  Eli 21/02/08
      54.   WRONG Picture 08:39  |  khalil shaheen 21/02/08
      55.   Gaza whining means its working! Keep the heat on, end the rockets 08:44  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/02/08
      56.   #4 (Billions and making their own food 08:46  |  Mike 21/02/08
      57.   Starving and freezing civilians to death 09:14  |  Matthew Kretzmer 21/02/08
      58.   Arabs Leaders War Crimes & Skullduggery Must Be Held Accountable 09:16  |  Joseph . E 21/02/08
      59.   The Thin Edge Of The Wedge? 09:23  |  chet 21/02/08
      60.   #26 Chaim asks a pertinent question 09:39  |  Johnboy 21/02/08
      61.   Israel doesn`t talk to the Palestinians 10:05  |  Clickfool 21/02/08
      62.   flush, flush, flush the europeans down! 10:08  |  Mark Katzman 21/02/08
      63.   LAKSHMI END the vile war criminal Qassems,racist hatred & lies. 10:18  |  PETER SM 21/02/08
      64.   INDRAJAYA YOU DON`T GET IT.ARABS ALWAYS WIN WARS 10:22  |  PETER SM 21/02/08
      65.   "Israel fears" 10:22  |  Chanalau, Tova 21/02/08
      66.   randi actually over 7000rockets AT Israeli civillians fired often 10:26  |  PETER SM 21/02/08
      67.   For Randi in Austria 10:27  |  Clickfool 21/02/08
      68.   Mossad 10:28  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 21/02/08
      69.   #23: Get Out Much Johan? Especially To The Middle East? 10:30  |  Lavi