The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was “immediately” suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused.
“There will be no suspension of payments” at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be “immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals … postponed until further notice.”
No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. A full European Commission statement always trumps a statement from an EU commissioner, but the reversal on a 691 million-euro ($730 million) program capped an embarrassing day at the EU’s executive at a time of extreme geopolitical sensitivities.
They are an oppressed people in an apartheid state—as recognised by Amnesty International. Their oppressor plans to suspend food/water/electricity/internet. Not all Palestinians belong to Hamas, and they have human rights and needs—they need and deserve aid.
Yep that was an unreflected knee-jerk reaction in the first place and no doubt various aid organisation went ballistic on the commission within minutes, behind the scenes.
It’s also incompatible with the EU’s stance in the first place: All that aid to Palestine is a way (besides helping people in need) to tell Israel to fucking cut it out without having to go on rants. Also, to provide contrast with various Arab states who focus on the ranting but generally do jackshit to help Palestinians.
About 80% of people in Gaza are dependent on humanitarian aid, for a good 16 years now due to Israel’s blockade. Right now, not even humanitarian aid is getting in. No water, no food, no power, no nothing.
Sweden, under its previous left-wing government, was one of the first countries to recognise Palestine as a state. It now has a hard-right government, and I am wondering if they will announce a withdrawal of recognition.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was “immediately” suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused.
After hours of uncertainty over how deep the measures would reach and whether they would possibly also affect aid to those in immediate need, the European Commission said there was no suspension for now, but said it started “an urgent review of the EU’s assistance for Palestine.”
The EU says it’s the biggest donor to the Palestinian people and has been advocating for years for the two-state approach that has guided international diplomacy since the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
During an earlier briefing Monday, the European Commission sought to draw a clear line between Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, and the Palestinian people, who are in need of humanitarian aid.
Like the European Commission, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said in a statement that Germany took great care that its aid for Palestinians “serves peace and not the terrorists.”
Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said Monday that much of the 72 million euros pledged this year has been paid out, and payments will continue because they support “life-saving work.”
The original article contains 919 words, the summary contains 229 words. Saved 75%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
