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Photo: AFP
Olmert: Tougher policies on Hamas
Photo: AFP

Israel introduces anti-Hamas boycott

Tough stance: Israel to boycott foreign officials who meet with Hamas representatives

Israeli officials will refuse to meet with foreign nationals who meet with Hamas members during visits to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a decision taken during a meeting at Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office.

 

Israel will also have no contact with the Palestinian Authority, which was designated as a hostile authority. The series of decisions is expected to be brought to the government's approval soon.

 

Olmert held the discussion on Israel's Hamas policy following the swearing-in of the Palestinian government. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz presented meeting participants with defense establishment's recommendations on the steps Israel should take following Hamas' rise to power, while Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni presented the Foreign Ministry's stance.

 

Meeting participants, who in addition to ministers included top security officials, also decided to make efforts to prevent Hamas' government from taking root. According to Israel's policy, the PA is one authority and not a two-headed entity, with the Hamas government on the one side and the moderate elements in the PA on the other side.

 

Olmert's fundamental decision was that contacts with the PA would be minimized. Nonetheless, the acting prime minister said that Israel would not personally reject PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

 

The participants also decided that Israel would coordinate its efforts with the international community regarding ways to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population, not through governmental organizations. For that reason, and subject to security considerations, Gaza Strip crossings will remain open in order to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

 

The discussion was attended by Defense Minister Mofaz, Foreign Minister Livni, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin, Intelligence Chief Major-General Amos Yadlin, the government's coordinator in the territories Major-General Yosef Mishlav, National Security Council head Giora Eiland and representatives of the Prime Minister's Office.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.09.06, 18:10
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