US official: No commitment to PA aid

WASHINGTON – A senior American official said the United States has not committed itself to support an international mechanism to funnel aid to the Palestinian Authority.

The Quartet of international mediators – United States, Russia, EU and UN – said Tuesday that a decision has been taken to funnel aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

The source said the EU wants to present the Americans a proposal on the issue during talks in Brussels in two weeks where international mediators will finalize the details of a mechanism to funnel aid to the Palestinians while ensuring funds don't reach Hamas.

By contrast to recent reports, the United States said it has not bowed to pressure by the EU, UN and Russia on the issue. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denied that the US has changed its position, telling Fox News nothing changed in light of the Quartet declaration.

'Come into line with international community's norms'

Under the new mechanism, funds will be diverted for humanitarian reasons and will not be used to pay the wages of PA employees.

"The Quartet expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability, and ensures direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people," the Quartet statement said.

"What is being said to Hamas is: Come into line with the norms of the international community and do so because as the government of the Palestinian people, they are owed a better life, and a better life is only going to come in the context of a two-state solution and ... negotiations on a peace process,’" Rice said.

Speaking after talks with Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Rice said: "The thrust of the statement is that the international community is still trying to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people."