US to resume aid to Palestinians under Abbas
Secretary of State Rice says lifting of economic sanctions stems from Abbas’ decision to dissolve Hamas-led government
WASHINGTON - The United States will resume direct aid to the Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday, following Abbas' formation of an emergency cabinet.
The United States would "resume full assistance to the Palestinian government and normal government to government contacts," Rice said of the decision, which followed days of US statements of support for the moderate Abbas after Hamas militants seized control of the Gaza Strip last week.
According to her, the change in the US’s policy stemmed from Abbas’ decision to dissolve the Hamas-led government and form a new coalition without representation of the Islamist group.
The American boycott on the Palestinian Authority was imposed following Hamas’ victory in the elections in January 2006.
President George W. Bush phoned Abbas earlier to inform him of the decision to renew the aid, while Rice spoke with newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
'Everything is coordinated'
The Bush Administration plans on immediately transferring $86 million to Abbas’ security forces and an additional $40 million in emergency aid.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to meet Rice and National Security Advisor Steve Hadley later in the day.
Members of the Israeli delegation said the Americans' decision came as no surprise.
“Everything is coordinated between us,” one Olmert aide said.
Also on Monday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would resume payments of Palestinian tax revenues if West Bank government supports Israel's right to exist.
Livni, who met with the EU ministers in Luxembourg, said her government would resume transfers of tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinians if Salam Fayyad’s new government committed to the goal of a future Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the 27-nation bloc will resume direct aid that was frozen more than a year ago after Hamas came to power.
Solana said the EU planned to deliver aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip through the United Nations or an existing temporary program that bypasses the Hamas leadership there.
Ronny Sofer and Reuters contributed to the report
