Government to vote on PA policy
Ministers set to make decisions regarding strategy toward Palestinian Authority, relations with Hamas-led parliament on Friday, just one day before Legislative Council is sworn in. Officials slam delay in formulating policy, say issue too complicated to be voted on last minute
The Israeli government is set to vote Friday on its policy on the issue of relations with the Palestinian Authority, just one day before the Hamas-led PA parliament is scheduled to be sworn in.
A government official criticized Tuesday the delay in the vote on the Palestinian subject, saying the government may find itself making a hurried decision without being able to weigh in the local and international developments relevant to the issue.
On Wednesday afternoon, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to hold a debate with senior security officials on the issue of Israel's policy regarding fund transfer to the PA once the Legislative Council is established in office.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is also expected to hold a discussion on the subject of Israel's strategy Thursday. The meeting's participants are set to address the issues that concern Israel most, including fears Hamas will assume control over the Palestinian security administration and the PA's ability to reign in terror with Hamas leading it.
On Friday the government is expected to eventually discuss its policy, and decide on questions such as fund transfer to the PA, resuming dialogue with the Palestinians, continuing trade and economic cooperation and leading an international struggle against the new Hamas-led government.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior ministers, including Livni, Mofaz and Interior Minister Gideon Ezra will formulate proposals that will apparently be put to a government vote Sunday.
'Vote comes too late'
"Ties with the Palestinian Authority must not be cut off following Hamas' rise to power," a government official in Jerusalem said.
"Israel must examine all the options, including the possibility it will be blamed in the future for mass starvation of the Palestinians and creating a situation that pushed them to escalate the dispute. We must address the complex problems in our future relations with the Palestinians in a way that can diffuse any international criticism of Israel and endangers our international status," he added.
Meanwhile, another official slammed the timing of the deliberations and decision-making on the subject, merely a day before a Hamas-majority parliament takes office.
"The issue is complicated and calls for a comprehensive examination. These decisions are being made too late in the game. The delay may be due to the surprising results of the Palestinian elections, but this does not change the fact Israel is making decisions under time constraints, and these may jeopardize our interests in the future," he said.
