PA: Abbas will dictate government policy

Israel on its part on Thursday announced that it will freeze the transfer tax rebates and customs collected on behalf of the Palestinians when the next parliament is sworn in on Saturday.

Livni (left) and Solana (Photo: Reuters) 

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and complained about Russia’s plans to invite Hamas leaders for talks in Moscow. Livni described Russia’s move as “unnecessary and annoying.”

Solana for his part expressed careful optimism about Russia’s plans, saying “the meeting with the Russians could be helpful if they relate the messages of the Quartet.”

Solana said he disagrees with Israel decision to freeze tax transfers. “I disagree with the Israeli decision to stop money transfers as of Saturday. We decided that decision day will be the formation of the Palestinian government and therefore there is no need to stop the funds now,” he said.

'Israel should not breech these understandings'

Solana met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah where spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah said Abbas “will decide the policy of the next Palestinian government.”

Abbas’ speech before the new parliament on Saturday will outline the broad lines of the next government’s policy. “These lines correspond to the decisions taken by the PLO and all the agreements signed by both sides, and therefore Israel should not breech these understandings and agreements,” Rudeinah said.

Senior PA officials on Thursday said Abbas will demand Hamas renounces violence and recognizes Israel as a condition for putting it in charge of forming the next government. Hamas has openly said that it will not recognize Israel, but Palestinian Authority officials said the Islamic group is showing readiness to accept agreements signed with Israel and to renounce terror.

Hamas’ political leader Khaled Mashaal said that under his group’s leadership the next Palestinian government will accept the agreements with Israel as a last resort to deal with the new reality.

Hamas has also hinted it is willing to declare a long-term truce with Israel. Hamas spokesman, Mushir al-Masri, an incoming Hamas lawmaker, dismissed reports that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will force the group to recognize Israel. He expressed confidence Hamas would find a "common understanding" with Abbas.