Brussels, 19/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following the vote of confidence that gave the Palestinian Legislative Council a very large majority, the government of national union has not managed to obtain unanimous support at an international level. Unsurprisingly, Israel rejected any collaboration with the new executive and called on the international community to do likewise. The US gave a rather cool welcome to the new government and regretted the governmental platform's lack of clarity with regard to the Quartet's conditions. The EU plans to judge the government on what it does, but did point out that it was willing to cooperate. The UN coordinator for the Middle East followed the line of the Europeans (EUROPE 9388) and also said that things were going in the right direction (EUROPE 9388). Norway announced that it would be re-establishing political and economic relations with the Palestinian executive.
In a declaration published on Saturday, the German presidency of the Council of the EU welcomed the formation of the coalition and reaffirmed that the EU was prepared “to work with and to resume its assistance to a legitimate Palestinian government adopting a platform reflecting the Quartet principles”. The EU explained that at this point in time it was a matter of assessing the new government's programme and action. It added that “the EU is committed to continuing its vital assistance through the Temporary International Mechanism until the financial situation and future needs can be assessed and a more sustainable framework for assistance can be established”. The Europeans are calling on the Israelis to both release the Palestinian tax and customs revenue it has been withholding, and to immediately release “Palestinian ministers and legislators detained in Israel”. The EU is urging the Palestinian government to “support all efforts for the immediate release of the abducted Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit”, the Israeli corporal captured in June 2006. In this connection, the head of the new government, Ishmael Hanniyeh, declared that he was trying to find a “rapid solution” based on an exchange of prisoners. The declaration adds: “The presidency of the EU is confident that the Palestinian government will support President Abbas in the renewed political process, initiated between Israeli and Palestinian leaders with the aim of launching meaningful negotiations leading to an end to the occupation that began in 1967, and to the creation of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel”.
Although the government promises to “respect” the previous agreements with Israel, the Palestinian government programme still does not explicitly recognise Israel or renounce violence. Disappointed by the Hamas prime minister's speech, the spokesperson for the US State Department affirmed that the reference to the “right to resistance” was worrying and directly contradicted the Quartet's principle of renouncing violence. The spokesperson said that the speech was “disappointing and incoherent” with regard to the principles of the Quartet, and constituted a missed opportunity. He added that Washington would continue the dialogue with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, whose government programme explains that he will represent the government in negotiations. (ab)