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BTL:Israel & U.S. Attempt to Isolate New Palestinian Hardline Hamas Government
Interview with Lori Allen, post-doctoral fellow at Brown University, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris
Israel and U.S. Attempt to Isolate New Palestinian Hardline Hamas Government
Interview with Lori Allen, post-doctoral fellow at Brown University, conducted by Scott Harris
Much of the world was caught by surprise when the militant Hamas movement won an overwhelming victory in the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary election. Hamas won 74 seats, while the long-ruling Fatah movement took only 45 seats in the 132-seat legislature. Israel, the U.S. and European Union consider Hamas to be a terrorist group, but these nations differ on how they will deal with a new Hamas-led government that is expected to be formed by the time Israelis go to the polls to elect a new government on March 28.
Israel, which has been the target of numerous Hamas suicide bombers and other attacks, has refused to negotiate with what they label a terrorist government, and is withholding millions of dollars in taxes collected from Palestinians. But, fearing that the lack of funds would cripple the Palestinian Authority, thereby creating more chaos, the Europeans recently provided $143 million to the Palestinians. However, the European Union says it will not continue to fund the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas recognizes Israel, disavows violence and honors previous agreements between Israel and the Fatah-run Palestinian government.
Conflict between Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas broke into the open on March 6 when the Hamas majority rescinded legislation giving Abbas increased powers, ratified during the final session of the Fatah-controlled parliament. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Lori Allen, a post-doctoral fellow at Brown University, who assesses the hard-line Islamic movement's chances for forming a viable government.
Some of Lori Allen's articles are published in the pages of Middle East Report, which can be found online at http://www.merip.org
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:
http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines [at] snet.net
*
http://www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
©2006 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.
Interview with Lori Allen, post-doctoral fellow at Brown University, conducted by Scott Harris
Much of the world was caught by surprise when the militant Hamas movement won an overwhelming victory in the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary election. Hamas won 74 seats, while the long-ruling Fatah movement took only 45 seats in the 132-seat legislature. Israel, the U.S. and European Union consider Hamas to be a terrorist group, but these nations differ on how they will deal with a new Hamas-led government that is expected to be formed by the time Israelis go to the polls to elect a new government on March 28.
Israel, which has been the target of numerous Hamas suicide bombers and other attacks, has refused to negotiate with what they label a terrorist government, and is withholding millions of dollars in taxes collected from Palestinians. But, fearing that the lack of funds would cripple the Palestinian Authority, thereby creating more chaos, the Europeans recently provided $143 million to the Palestinians. However, the European Union says it will not continue to fund the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas recognizes Israel, disavows violence and honors previous agreements between Israel and the Fatah-run Palestinian government.
Conflict between Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas broke into the open on March 6 when the Hamas majority rescinded legislation giving Abbas increased powers, ratified during the final session of the Fatah-controlled parliament. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Lori Allen, a post-doctoral fellow at Brown University, who assesses the hard-line Islamic movement's chances for forming a viable government.
Some of Lori Allen's articles are published in the pages of Middle East Report, which can be found online at http://www.merip.org
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:
http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines [at] snet.net
*
http://www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
©2006 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.
For more information:
http://BETWEEN THE LINES c/o WPKN Radio 89...
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EU threatens aid cut unless Hamas commits to peace with Israel
By News Agencies
The European Union on Friday threatened to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government "unless it seeks peace by peaceful means," in its strongest signal on the issue to date.
The EU foreign ministers reviewed financial aid to Palestinians, but announced no immediate halt to funds as long as Hamas has not formed a government.
It was expected to do so later this month.
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"We want to remain a reliable partner for the Palestinian people, but we will not go soft on our principles," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said. "Money will not flow to the new (Palestinian) authority unless it seeks peace by peaceful means."
Ferrero-Waldner spoke at the outset of two days of informal talks by EU foreign ministers in Salzburg.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the EU wants to see the Hamas-led government's program to find out what its stance is on the "road map" to Middle East peace drafted by the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations.
The EU expects a Hamas-led government to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept all previous agreements between the Palestinians and Israel.
If it does not do that, "there can be no cooperation with a government that is led by Hamas," Steinmeier said.
He added the EU has so far not seen any "meaningful signals" from Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction.
The decision to hold off on cutting aid was seen as a bid to pressure Hamas, which won the Jan. 25 Palestinian elections, to shed its strident anti-Israel views and ensure EU aid continues to ease the economic plight of the Palestinian people.
Officials said one way for Hamas to do so was to endorse a 2002 peace initiative of Arab nations that includes a recognition of Israel's right to exist.
Israel has already halted monthly transfers to the Palestinian Authority of some $50 million in tax receipts following Hamas' election victory.
The 25 EU foreign ministers grappled with the question of how Europe can remain the largest donor for the Palestinians without any of their aid ending up in the till of a government led by a faction both the United States and the EU consider a terrorist organization.
Hamas lawmaker Mahmoud Zahar reacted angrily to the demand his group falls in line with the peace process.
"What are the peaceful means?" he asked. "Do they want us to respect Israel's decision to kill and detain our children?"
He urged the EU to issue a response to Israeli actions against Palestinians. "They shouldn't just talk about the Palestinians, but also about Israel," he said.
EU foreign policy and security affairs chief Javier Solana presented them with an update of current aid programs he co-wrote with Ferrero-Waldner.
The paper offered no funding options, nor a recommendation for an immediate cut off of EU aid to the Palestinians.
In 2005, EU governments and the EU executive commission together gave about $600 million to the Palestinian Authority.
Officials said half of that came from the European Commission, whose annual aid fluctuates.
Last year, it contributed $334 million, but 2005 was an exceptional year with Israel pulling out of the Gaza area and Palestinians readying for an election campaign.
EU aid for the Palestinian Authority includes funds to pay for salaries and administration costs.
On Feb. 27, the EU granted $143 million in urgent aid for Palestinians before a Hamas-led government takes office for utility bills, UN projects and Palestinian Authority salaries.
The United States has already ruled out money for the Hamas government and is considering continued financing without money going to Hamas.
By News Agencies
The European Union on Friday threatened to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government "unless it seeks peace by peaceful means," in its strongest signal on the issue to date.
The EU foreign ministers reviewed financial aid to Palestinians, but announced no immediate halt to funds as long as Hamas has not formed a government.
It was expected to do so later this month.
Advertisement
"We want to remain a reliable partner for the Palestinian people, but we will not go soft on our principles," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said. "Money will not flow to the new (Palestinian) authority unless it seeks peace by peaceful means."
Ferrero-Waldner spoke at the outset of two days of informal talks by EU foreign ministers in Salzburg.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the EU wants to see the Hamas-led government's program to find out what its stance is on the "road map" to Middle East peace drafted by the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations.
The EU expects a Hamas-led government to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept all previous agreements between the Palestinians and Israel.
If it does not do that, "there can be no cooperation with a government that is led by Hamas," Steinmeier said.
He added the EU has so far not seen any "meaningful signals" from Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction.
The decision to hold off on cutting aid was seen as a bid to pressure Hamas, which won the Jan. 25 Palestinian elections, to shed its strident anti-Israel views and ensure EU aid continues to ease the economic plight of the Palestinian people.
Officials said one way for Hamas to do so was to endorse a 2002 peace initiative of Arab nations that includes a recognition of Israel's right to exist.
Israel has already halted monthly transfers to the Palestinian Authority of some $50 million in tax receipts following Hamas' election victory.
The 25 EU foreign ministers grappled with the question of how Europe can remain the largest donor for the Palestinians without any of their aid ending up in the till of a government led by a faction both the United States and the EU consider a terrorist organization.
Hamas lawmaker Mahmoud Zahar reacted angrily to the demand his group falls in line with the peace process.
"What are the peaceful means?" he asked. "Do they want us to respect Israel's decision to kill and detain our children?"
He urged the EU to issue a response to Israeli actions against Palestinians. "They shouldn't just talk about the Palestinians, but also about Israel," he said.
EU foreign policy and security affairs chief Javier Solana presented them with an update of current aid programs he co-wrote with Ferrero-Waldner.
The paper offered no funding options, nor a recommendation for an immediate cut off of EU aid to the Palestinians.
In 2005, EU governments and the EU executive commission together gave about $600 million to the Palestinian Authority.
Officials said half of that came from the European Commission, whose annual aid fluctuates.
Last year, it contributed $334 million, but 2005 was an exceptional year with Israel pulling out of the Gaza area and Palestinians readying for an election campaign.
EU aid for the Palestinian Authority includes funds to pay for salaries and administration costs.
On Feb. 27, the EU granted $143 million in urgent aid for Palestinians before a Hamas-led government takes office for utility bills, UN projects and Palestinian Authority salaries.
The United States has already ruled out money for the Hamas government and is considering continued financing without money going to Hamas.
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