European Union to Cut Aid for the Palestinian Authority?

Daniel Pipes
danielpipes.org
Updated 29 May '10

European Union diplomats are warning that unless a breakthrough toward a Palestinian state emerges sometime soon, its roughly €300 million a year in aid could cease, Reuters reports.

The aid is supposed to prepare the Palestinians for a peace treaty with Israel that will give them their own state, but "if that isn't coming then I can see a number of questions," said Christian Berger, the EU's representative in Jerusalem. … A delegation from the European Parliament is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories this week and would certainly be asking "if at the end of the day we don't have a state, then what are we doing with the money," Berger added.

Much hangs on the "proximity talks" arranged by George Mitchell: "If there's a breakthrough then I guess there's a likelihood that our support will be increased," Berger told reporters. Of note: the EU already donates more aid on a per-capita basis to the PA than to any other recipient.

PA officials are in stark denial.

(Read full post)

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