The European Union is providing short-term assistance but has threatened to cut off links with the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas, whose charter commits it to the destruction of Israel, changes its policy once in government. On another front, Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshaal slammed the Israeli government's plan to finalize the country's borders by 2010 as a "declaration of war."EU foreign ministers meeting in the Austrian city of Salzburg held back from any immediate decisions on aid, but called on Hamas to give clear signs it was committed to change. "Without a statement on that we will not work with a Hamas-led government. It is absolutely clear this can't be hot air," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "We have to repeat over and over again that Hamas must recognize Israel, and that we cannot make progress with violence," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.