EU Ends Direct Aid to Palestinian Gov't

The Washington Post ^ | Friday, April 7 | Constant Brand

[wolf78]

EU Ends Direct Aid to Palestinian Gov't

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union has cut off direct aid payments to the Hamas-led Palestinian government because of its refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel, the EU's executive office said Friday.

Hamas said the decision amounts to collective punishment of Palestinian people. The 25-nation EU is the largest international donor to Palestinian Authority.

"We call on the EU not to adopt such decisions and policies, which we consider collective punishment against the Palestinian people, because they exercised their democratic right through elections," said legislator Mushir al-Masri, head of Hamas' parliament faction.

European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said some $36.9 million marked for release later this year was at stake. She added that the temporary aid cut-off would not affect humanitarian aid sent to non-governmental organizations or to U.N. relief agencies.

"For the time being there are no payments to or through the Palestinian authority," she said.

[wolf78]

FYI

[Coop]

A step in the right direction.

[duckman]

They'll be funded by Iran and Syria so I don't think it matters too much to them IMHO.

[randog]

Not to worry--Yassir Arafat stashed millions in Swiss bank accounts for rainy days such as these. I'm sure Suha wouldn't mind tapping into that stash.

</sarcasm>

[synbad600]

". . . punishment against the Palestinian people, because they exercised their democratic right through elections."

Well, the EU is exercising their democratic right to do with their money want they want.

[OldFriend]

The EU will find a way to funnel dollars to the murderers.

[bill1952]

Window dressing. - They will continue other aid, and that just shifts the figures in the account books of HAMAS from one column to another.

While I am not a great admirer of the ME policies of the number one aid giver to palastine, the US, europe is a basket case, blind to its own coming death.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21955

[veronica]

Heh...

[joe fonebone]

""We call on the EU not to adopt such decisions and policies, which we consider collective punishment against the Palestinian people, because they exercised their democratic right through elections," "
So, If I read this correctly, if we as americans vote to nuke the entire middle east, we should not be punished because we exercised our democratic right through elections? This guy's intellegence factor is below that of a moron.....

[ClaireSolt]

Good. Let the Islamicists fund ther own movement.

[FreedomPoster]

About time.

Let them wallow in their psychosis, destitute.

[agrace]

They'll reverse themselves in no time, no doubt.

[joe fonebone]

Bowel movement?

[Woodstock]

Hamas said the decision amounts to collective punishment of Palestinian people.

E'Yah...and your point is? Palestinians elected Hamas and the EU is saying to supporting terrorists...Hummm, makes sense to me. But being that we are talking about the EU, I don't think Hamas has too much to worry about.

[AmericaUnite]

They'll be funded by Iran and Syria

Great maybe it will cause them to spend their resources supporting people who don't create anything.

[areafiftyone]

The problem is that they will get plenty of money from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Iran to name a few! But the EU finally did something worthy of praise

[globalheater]

sad to say your the only one who can openly say " Europe - you got that one right" all the others seem to have a fever that inhibits their 'Euros got at least one thing right' neurons somehow.

[Coop]

There are a few of us. :-)

[Paradox]

They HAD to do this, but give them credit. This might be one of the final gasps of a dying civilization, but its a principled act.

[ican'tbelieveit]

ok, I was thinking it was April 1 for a moment. But, at least they did get it right.

But, I am worried they will buckle under pressure.