World awaits new Palestinian Unity Government to prove itself
Gaza (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Acceptance from the Islamic world, closure from Israel, suspended judgement on the part of the United Sates and Europe have greeted the new Palestinian Unity government, in short the world is waiting for the newly appointed cabinet to prove itself, Premier Haniyeh’s affirmation of the “right to resistance”, is considered equivocal in the face of the requirement that the authority refuse violence. This requirement is part of the requests put forward by the Quartet (Un, Usa, Eu and Russia) to unblock the aid freeze on the Palestinians, put in place following Hamas’ election victory in January 2006. Both the United States and Europe consider the group terrorist.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said “We have to admit that the Palestinian Government is not responding to the Quartet conditions” which foresees, besides the rejection of violence, the recognition of the State of Israel and a return to the charter agreement already set out by the PLA and Israel. “But –Solana added – what they do is more important than what they say ”. And this suggestion is being seen as a suspension of judgement. For now EU external relationscommissioner, Austrian Benita Ferrero-Waldner made known that the EU has decided to apply a 90 day trial period for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. “I would not speak in terms of 90 days or fix dates” – said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. “We will continue to keep an eye on what they do and what they say, in the hopes that they will eventually except Quartet conditions”. McCormack also confirmed that in the immediate future the US will not have relations with the Hamas ministers. Us Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she wanted “I am not going to try to interpret what the right of resistance means but I'll tell you, it doesn't sound very good to me”.
Confirmation of the Us attitude came today in the form of a meeting between the Us consul in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, and the new minister for finance , Salam Fayyad, an independent sponsored by Fatah, former leading official at the World Monetary Fund, who worked and studied in the US.
A formal and open recognition of the new Palestinian Authority has come instead from Norway. Yesterday the vice minister for foreign affairs, Raymond Johansen, met with Premier Haniyeh.
The Israeli government - which still refers to Haniyehs executive as a terrorist organisation- reacted immediately. The Tel Aviv foreign minister cancelled her appointment with Johansen. ” International dignitaries who meet with Hamas officials will not receive meetings with Israeli officials” - said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
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