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| By: israelinsider staff |
| Published: March 20, 2007 |
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The Israeli Foreign Ministry called off its Tuesday meeting with a top Norwegian official after his Monday meeting with the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and other officials.
Norway's deputy foreign minister Raymond Johansen met with Haniyeh Monday as a sign of the Scandinavian country's support for the new Palestinian government, and its reinstallation of aid.
"It is surely a mistake to give legitimacy and recognition to an unreformed extremist (group) and it cannot serve the purposes of peace," stated Foreign Ministery spokesman Mark Regev in response to Norway's actions.
Johansen is the first major Western official to meet with the new Palestinian government. Though Norway is not a member of the EU, it does belong to the UN and has historically given abundant aid to the PA and has been involved in the Mideast peace process.
Regev could not confirm a meeting with Johansen had been previously scheduled, but assured that it would not take place.
"There was a Cabinet ruling last year. [...] International dignitaries who meet with Hamas officials will not receive meetings with Israeli officials," Regev stated.
The Quartet, comprised of the U.S., the UN, Russia and the EU, has decided to maintain its boycott of the Palestinian Authority until it concedes with the Quartet's conditions of renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and agreeing to past accords.
Israel has continued to ask the international community reject this new Palestinian government, citing its obvious terror ties.
"Following Hamas' first terror attack since joining the Palestinian government over the weekend, it is evident that this is a government steeped in terror which the international community should avoid," stated official David Baker of Prime Minister Olmert's office to Haaretz Tuesday. |
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