Palestinians were given money

Russia persuaded the European Union to fork out

Moscow defended its opinion that the Palestinian people, who gave preference to the radical Hamas movement in the parliamentary elections in January, should not suffer because of this. Despite the fact that this movement is recognized as “terrorist” in the United States and Europe, the European Union decided to resume financial assistance to Palestine. This plan was approved on Saturday by the quartet of international mediators in the Middle East settlement, consisting of Russia, the United States, the UN and the European Union.

The plan provides for the creation by July of a mechanism to address the basic needs of low-income Palestinians, support social protection services, healthcare and ensure fuel supplies to the autonomy. The money will be transferred bypassing the Hamas government.

The Quartet emphasized that the plan lasts three months, and in total the assistance will amount to 99.6 million euros ($126 million), which will come from the EU. Press Secretary of the European Commission Embassy in Israel David Criss clarified to Vremya Novostei that “specific and targeted” assistance programs will be carried out under the control of the EU and the World Bank.

The Quartet expressed the hope that Israel and other international donors will join this scheme. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed this topic with First Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres. They met in Almaty at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. Shimon Peres admitted that the Israelis fear that the money might fall into the hands of Hamas, which could use it to finance terrorist activities. At yesterday's meeting of the Israeli government, Peres told his colleagues about his conversation with Putin: “Russia is very disappointed by Hamas’ refusal to comply with the Quartet’s demands (to begin negotiations with Israel - Ed. ) and by the fact that Hamas continues to encourage terror.”

According to Peres, the Russian President promised him that Moscow would not take any actions against Hamas without coordinating them with Israel.

In May, Russia was one of the first to break the financial boycott of Palestine and transferred $10 million to the account of the head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, that is, bypassing Hamas, although Moscow does not consider this organization a terrorist organization. At the same time, on Moscow’s initiative and taking into account its experience, the Quartet began working out a “temporary mechanism” for assistance.

The Quartet’s decision was made on the eve of a visit to the Middle East by European Commission Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who called on Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel, as well as all previously reached agreements with it, including the “Road Map” plan developed by the Quartet. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Eddie Shapira told VN yesterday that there is no official Israeli reaction to the EU decision yet: “Ms. Ferrero-Waldner, at meetings on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, will present the exact mechanism for transferring money to the autonomy. Only after this will Israel express its position.”

Abbas called the Quartet's decision "a good, but not entirely sufficient step." Hamas is completely offended that money is being transferred bypassing the government: “This is insulting to the results of democratic elections.”

The Palestinian cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Ismail Hanniyeh, has not paid full salaries to civil servants and security forces for the fourth month, the total number of which is 165 thousand people with a monthly salary fund of $116 million. When, in early June, Hanniyeh paid one month’s salary to only a small part employees (mostly from Hamas), this only added fuel to the fire of the conflict between Fatah and Hamas. The other day, the head of the Security Committee of the Legislative Council (Parliament) of Palestine, Muhammad Dahlyan, explained in an interview with Vremya Novostey that it is not Hamas that is actually under a financial blockade, since it receives assistance from a number of Islamic countries and collects internal taxes. In fact , it is mainly ordinary Palestinians and Fatah members who suffer , who make up about 80% of the autonomy's employees.

According to Israeli press reports, at the end of the week before last, Palestinian Information Minister Yousef Rizka entered the autonomy through the Rafah checkpoint on the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt, with $4 million in cash in his suitcase. Earlier, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zakhhar brought $20 million in the same way. This money was collected by Hamas in the form of donations in Islamic countries.

Against the backdrop of the Quartet's decision to resume aid to Palestine, the press service of the Hamas government reported yesterday that Fatah and Hamas are close to reconciliation and agreement, including on the controversial Document of National Accord, the signing of which may take place as early as these days. The document is based on the so-called memorandum of prisoners - high-ranking members of Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian organizations in Israeli prisons. The memorandum contains indirect recognition of Israel and calls for the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and a government of national unity. If the document is signed, there will be no need for a referendum on it, scheduled by Abbas for July 26.

Dmitry DUBOV, Jerusalem, Alexander SAMOKHOTKIN