Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr
Photo: AFP
PA minister says aid embargo collapsing
Palestinian foreign minister accuses Israel of sabotaging peace talks with Palestinians by deciding to shun new Palestinian unity government
The newly appointed Palestinian foreign minister called on Israel on Sunday to revoke its decision to shun the new Palestinian unity government, saying there were signs that the aid embargo on the Palestinian Authority was nearing an end.
"The walls of isolation and the aid embargo are cracking," Foreign Minister Ziad Abu-Amr, an independent lawmaker, told Ynet. "Israel should feel uncomfortable and ashamed, because at a time when we are accepting a large part of the international demands and are adopting a moderate political platform the Israeli government continues to be blindly stubborn."
Abu-Amr accused Israel of sabotaging any chances of reviving the long-stalled peace process with the Palestinians by shunning the new Palestinian unity government.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel would not talk to members of the new unity government so long it had not clearly renounced violence.
Abu-Amr said that he had received invitations from the foreign ministers of France and Norway, adding that Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere had told him that Norway would cooperate with the new Palestinian government.
Abu-Amr added that the new government was not controlled by Hamas, saying the Islamic group was "a partner in this government, like other factions and figures."
He rejected claims that the new unity government will adopt Hamas' stance of not recognizing Israel and abetting violence, saying the government's top priority is to meet the demands of the international community and to lift the crippling aid embargo.
The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, a body comprising the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, has demanded that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past agreements.
He added that Israel "would do well if it cooperates" with the new unity government.
"Israel's steps will point to its seriousness. We will take a series of positive steps and it will be regretful if they are met by a resisting Israel position" he said.
Abu-Amr and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad will leave on a tour of the Arab world, Europe and the United States to garner support for the new unity government.
