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Israel's FM Tzipi Livni, last week (AP)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners March 26, 2006 |
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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has assured U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Gaza crossings will remain open for shipments of humanitarian aid, so long as there are no security threats, Israel Radio reported Saturday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said he was not at liberty to discuss the content of the call, which Rice placed to Livni on Friday, but that Israel's stated policy is to alleviate shortages in the Gaza Strip, where possible.
"We've said to foreign governments, including the United States, that we are interested in the maximum possible access in and out of the Gaza Strip and will do everything possible to facilitate the flow of humanitarian supplies, bearing in mind Israel's security concerns," Regev told The Associated Press on Saturday.
An agreement on the control of Gaza border crossings, which Rice brokered in November, was to have been a major step toward reviving the Palestinian economy, devastated by nearly five years of fighting with Israel. But the agreement, reached shortly after Israel pulled out of Gaza, has foundered, and for most of this year, Israel has kept the main cargo crossing shut, creating food shortages for ordinary Palestinians and financial losses for Palestinian farmers and merchants.
Rice called Livni, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to press them to work to keep the crossings open, so humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and goods can get through, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.
Israel says security threats are behind its idling of the vital Karni cargo crossing.
Palestinians claim they are being punished for the victory of Hamas militants in January parliamentary elections, and until recently, rejected Israel's offer of alternate crossings while the Karni passage is closed.
Another main crossing, between Gaza and Egypt, is run by the Palestinians, with EU inspectors.
Abbas plans to set up a new presidential agency to settle border disputes with Israel that might keep the crossings closed, Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said. Erekat said he's been designated the Palestinians' chief negotiator for the crossings.
The crossings have so far been managed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which will now be run by the incoming Hamas government.
EU waiting for developments before deciding on aid
The European Union is expected to wait until the outcome of next week's Israeli election and expected formation of a Hamas government before announcing any new developments on its aid to the Palestinians, officials said Friday.
The two-day summit of EU leaders that wrapped up Friday did not deal with the Middle East. Instead it focused on efforts to boost Europe's economy, improve energy security and the situation in Belarus.
Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the EU would likely hold more talks - at a lower level - following Tuesday's elections in Israel. One said the EU leaders wanted to avoid making sensitive statements on the region so close to the Israeli vote - because of that, the officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot said the EU has already made clear the Palestinians risk losing massive aid unless Hamas forms a government that commits to peace with Israel.
"The EU foreign ministers have extensively discussed" the possibility of cutting off vital economic assistance unless a Hamas government renounces violence, recognizes Israel and signs up to peace agreements, he told reporters.
The fate of the EU's aid program - worth more than US$600 million a year - has been in the balance since Hamas scored a landslide parliamentary election victory on Jan. 25.
Since then, the EU has struggled to see how its aid can remain a lifeline for 4 million destitute Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip without having to deal with the incoming Hamas government and keeping aid funds out of its coffers.
The Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament is expected to meet in the next few days to appoint a government led by the Islamist group which the EU, United States and Israel have branded as a terrorist organization.
EU officials said there would be no automatic cutoff of the aid, which is channeled through the World Bank or other international bodies. Instead, one official said the bloc will want to see the program of the incoming government and then consult with its partners in the Quartet group of would-be peacemakers - Russia, the United States and the United Nations.
One official said the Quartet would be likely be in touch by phone immediately after Hamas takes power, if that were to happen next week, to decide what steps to take.
The Bush administration has informed Israel's Foreign Ministry and security officials that it plans to halt funding to a Palestinian infrastructure project after a Hamas-led government is approved in parliament, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
The report, which quoted unidentified Israeli officials, said the U.S. government decided to take the step to ensure that American money does not reach the group.
The EU had already suspended much of its aid last year after a dispute over spending on salaries by the previous Fatah government, but it agreed last month to free up US$144 million in emergency aid to keep the Palestinian Authority afloat until Hamas takes power.
AP contributed to this report.
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