EU to renew Palestinian aid, urges dialogue in Lebanon

Dec 11, 2006, 14:19 GMT

Brussels - European Union foreign ministers Monday were set to extend the bloc's aid programme for Palestinians as officials warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she was suggesting a three-month extension of a multi-million euro aid blueprint for Palestinians which bypasses the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

'The situation in the Palestinian territories is deteriorating,' said Ferrero-Waldner.

The commissioner also urged Israel to unblock the transfer of taxes and customs duties to the Palestinians to alleviate the territories' cash crisis.

She added that the EU supported the formation of a Palestinian national unity government or new elections which would allow a resumption of international aid to Gaza and the West Bank.

The EU and the United States have frozen direct aid to the Palestinian Authority following the election victory earlier this year of Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by both Brussels and Washington.

However, funds have been flowing to the territories through the so-called 'temporary international mechanism' which focuses on assisting health projects in the Palestinian territories.

The aid programme provides for the payment of 'special allowances' to Palestinian health workers and other vulnerable groups.

Ferrero-Waldner also voiced strong support for the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and said all groups in the country must exercise restraint.

'We want to see a stable Lebanon,' she said.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese opposition supporters, led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, are demanding the resignation of Seniora's government.

Separately, Amnesty International urged EU governments to make human rights the anchor of international efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.

In a letter to EU Foreign Ministers, the human rights organization warned that a cease-fire alone, without respect for human rights, would not bring lasting peace to the region.

Amnesty International called for effective international human rights monitoring across Israel and the Palestinian territories and the accountability of both parties, in compliance with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.

It pointed to Israel obligation as an 'occupying power' to provide for the protection and welfare of the Palestinian population and the immediate cessation of the sale or transfer of weapons to all conflicting parties.