The European Union, the biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority, could curb aid if Hamas Islamic militants win a parliamentary election next month, Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said on Sunday. Hamas, which is sworn to destroying Israel and has spearheaded a suicide bombing campaign, is putting up candidates for parliament for the first time on Jan. 25. It is expected to do well against President Mahmoud Abbas's fractured Fatah."It is very difficult that parties that do not condemn violence ... without changing those positions can be partners for the future," Solana told reporters in Tel Aviv. If Hamas won, he said, it would be "very difficult that help and the money that goes to ... the Palestinian Authority will continue to flow".
Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat called Solana's comments "unacceptable", saying: "This is a direct intervention in our internal affairs ... Mr Solana and others should respect the choice of the Palestinian people."
| They keep using that word "unacceptable." I do not think it means what they think it means. |