Eurabia Update: “EU ‘to keep funding Palestinians,'” from the BBC, with thanks to Kasia:
The European Union says it will continue funding the Palestinian Authority so long as its new government is committed to peace with Israel.
When did Hamas ever say it was committed to peace with Israel?
EU ministers renewed their call for Hamas to renounce violence and recognise the Jewish state following the militant group’s election victory.
Earlier Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas urged foreign donors to continue giving aid to the Palestinians.
EU member states donated about $600m (£341m) to the Palestinians in 2005.
But Hamas’ landslide victory has left the union in a quandary because the group, which has launched dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis, figures on an EU list of terrorist groups.
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, who chaired the talks in Brussels, said the EU expects the new Palestinian assembly to “support the formation of a government committed to a peaceful and negotiated solution of the conflict with Israel”.