Hamas leaders on Wednesday said they hope to open a dialogue with the European Union, aiming to prevent the bloc from cutting off hundreds of millions of dollars in vital aid.
The EU has threatened to scale back aid to the Palestinians once Hamas, which won the Palestinian legislative elections in January, officially takes office. The EU has demanded the incoming Palestinian government commit to peace with Israel — a demand Hamas rejects.
Mahmoud Zahar, the incoming Palestinian foreign minister, said he would ask his counterparts at next week’s Arab League summit to help Hamas establish contact with Europe.
”We will ask the Arab foreign ministers in the summit to arrange meetings for us with the Europeans,” he told The Associated Press.
Israel, the United States and the EU consider Hamas a terror group. Hamas has sent dozens of suicide bombers into Israel, killing hundreds, but none during the past year when a cease-fire has been in effect.
Salah Bardawil, a Hamas spokesperson, said Hamas has already established unofficial contacts with Europe through third parties, without specifying. The group’s recent meetings in Russia were a gateway, and Egyptian officials have also spoken to European leaders on their behalf, he said.
”Europe and some countries are afraid to be held accountable for meeting with us. So all the meetings were through unofficial channels … to feel the pulse,” he said. Hamas is ready to be ”flexible,” he said, but ruled out recognition of Israel.
The EU and individual European nations provided about $600-million in aid to the Palestinians last year, nearly half of all their international assistance.
EU leaders are set to open a two-day meeting on Thursday, where they plan to discuss the Middle East. European leaders have pledged to take a tough line against Hamas, but they want to ensure that vital aid continues to reach the impoverished Palestinian population.
In Rome, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday stressed the EU line that EU aid to needy Palestinians must not end up helping extremist organisations. Berlusconi made the comments in a meeting at his office with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
”In particular, there was full agreement on the need that the new Palestinian leadership formed by Hamas renounce violence, recognise previously signed accords and the right to existence of the state of Israel,” the statement from Berlusconi’s office said.
If Europe cuts off funding, Hamas officials say they are ready to make up the gap by trimming the bloated Palestinian bureaucracy and receiving aid from Arab and Muslim allies. — Sapa-AP