Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent. 22/07./07. Livni asked Solana during their meeting last week to instruct the donor states to focus only on infrastructure and economy-related issues, especially in the West Bank, in order to improve the lives of the Palestinian people. Livni said that Israel does not want the donor states to become a political body that deals with issues such as a final status solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Livni reiterated the importance of ensuring that donated funds don't reach Hamas.
Israel has sent a message to the European Union saying it opposes an initiative to form an umbrella group by countries who provide aid to the Palestinian Authority.
In a meeting with EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana last Wednesday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni pressed Israel would resist an attempt to institutionalize the status of the so-called "donor states" including 12 Western nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Since the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were signed in 1993, the said donor states have transferred billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and helped revive the ailing Palestinian economy.
Norway, who heads the donor group, has called a meeting of the members to be held in September, and a follow-up meeting in December.
Livni's message to Solana stems from information recently learned by the Foreign Ministry which indicates that Norway, a country which holds an independent political stance on Palestinian issues, will try to turn the donor state conference into an event aimed at exerting political pressure on Israel.
Israel has long been dissatisfied with Norway's policies in the region, especially since it was the first nation to renew aid to the Palestinian unity government, which included the militant Islamic party Hamas. The West had declared an economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority when Hamas rose to power in March 2006, and by donating funds to the unity government, Norway in essence violated the embargo. Norway is also one of the only European nations who openly conduct direct ties with Hamas.
Senior officials from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry are scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday for talks on the issue.
Livni asked Solana during their meeting last week to instruct the donor states to focus only on infrastructure and economy-related issues, especially in the West Bank, in order to improve the lives of the Palestinian people. Livni said that Israel does not want the donor states to become a political body that deals with issues such as a final status solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent. 22/07/07. Israeli officials believe that the body's involvement in such political issues would only not only hinder the peace process, but also diminish the group's ability to provide assistance to the Palestinian people.
Livni reiterated the importance of ensuring that donated funds don't reach Hamas.
United States President George W. Bush called on the donor states to renew their activity in a major policy speech he gave last week. He urged the donor states to bolster the Palestinian interim government, established by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas following Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza last month.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=884473&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1
In a meeting with EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana last Wednesday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni pressed Israel would resist an attempt to institutionalize the status of the so-called "donor states" including 12 Western nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Since the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were signed in 1993, the said donor states have transferred billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and helped revive the ailing Palestinian economy.
Norway, who heads the donor group, has called a meeting of the members to be held in September, and a follow-up meeting in December.
Livni's message to Solana stems from information recently learned by the Foreign Ministry which indicates that Norway, a country which holds an independent political stance on Palestinian issues, will try to turn the donor state conference into an event aimed at exerting political pressure on Israel.
Israel has long been dissatisfied with Norway's policies in the region, especially since it was the first nation to renew aid to the Palestinian unity government, which included the militant Islamic party Hamas. The West had declared an economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority when Hamas rose to power in March 2006, and by donating funds to the unity government, Norway in essence violated the embargo. Norway is also one of the only European nations who openly conduct direct ties with Hamas.
Senior officials from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry are scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday for talks on the issue.
Livni asked Solana during their meeting last week to instruct the donor states to focus only on infrastructure and economy-related issues, especially in the West Bank, in order to improve the lives of the Palestinian people. Livni said that Israel does not want the donor states to become a political body that deals with issues such as a final status solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent. 22/07/07. Israeli officials believe that the body's involvement in such political issues would only not only hinder the peace process, but also diminish the group's ability to provide assistance to the Palestinian people.
Livni reiterated the importance of ensuring that donated funds don't reach Hamas.
United States President George W. Bush called on the donor states to renew their activity in a major policy speech he gave last week. He urged the donor states to bolster the Palestinian interim government, established by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas following Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza last month.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=884473&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1
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