Israel Decides to End Sanctions and Embargo on the West Bank But Keep them on Gaza, the Bush Administration Follows

Israel considers transferring withheld tax to the PA following the dissolution of the unity government 

Date: 15 / 06 / 2007 Time: 18:08

Jerusalem – Ma'an – 

Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported on Friday that Israel is considering transferring withheld Palestinian tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, following the dissolution of the Hamas-Fateh unity government.

The move is expected to be encouraged by Washington in order to support Abbas' new emergency government, which is to be led by finance minister, Salam Fayyad. Fayyad is from the Third Way party.

Haaretz reported that Washington is also expected to request that Israel loosen its military hold over the West Bank in the wake of the Gaza takeover by Hamas, in order to promote Abbas' authority.

The paper added that the American administration is also keen to raise the standard of living of Palestinians in the West Bank to convince Palestinians that conditions are preferable under Fateh rather than Hamas.

Abbas, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Bush are all reportedly in favour of deploying multinational forces in the Gaza Strip to maintain order, as Hamas has consolidated near-absolute control of the area.

However, political commentators in Israel are sceptical about the possibility of a multinational forces being deployed in Gaza in the near future, citing danger as the reason for international reluctance.

Palestinians: U.S. promises embargo end

By KARIN LAUB Associated Press Writer

Jun 16, 2007, 10:39 AM EDT

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- 

The U.S. strengthened its offer of support for President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday, telling him an international aid embargo against the Palestinians would end as soon as he forms a new government without Hamas, aides to Abbas and a Western diplomat said.

The State Department said only that U.S. officials were studying how to bolster Abbas' administration given the upheaval in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said the new government would be sworn in by Sunday. 

The international community, both in the Arab world and the West, have sided with Abbas in the dispute.

In a major boost for Abbas, the U.S. consul-general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, said Washington would end 15 months of sanctions once the new Palestinian government is formed, aides to Abbas said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.

The sanctions were imposed after Hamas was elected in January 2006. Hamas and Fateh have been locked in a power struggle since then, especially over which group would control security forces.

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. was expected to announce at the beginning of the week that it will fully engage with the new Abbas government. All restrictions will be lifted, including those on bank transfers, the official said.

In Washington, Sean McCormack, State Department spokesman, said the Bush administration was examining its options for providing support to Abbas, but added that "I can't offer any specifics for you at this point."

He described Fayyad, Abbas' new prime minister, as "a person that the international community has long experience with, has great confidence in."

UNRWA warns of continued closure of Gaza crossings

[ 16/06/2007 - 02:57 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- 

The UNRWA has called for the re-opening of all crossings linking Gaza to the outside world to facilitate entry of goods and movement of civilians in and out of the tiny Strip.

John Ging, the director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, told a press conference Friday night at the Shifa hospital in Gaza city that the international organization had enough supplies to last for three weeks.

"Life should go on in this place (of the world) where the inhabitants suffer from big problems at all levels," he added.

Ging declared that the current calm prevailing in Gaza would help in restoration of UNRWA operations to normalcy.

The international official noted that the economic and humanitarian conditions in the Strip had greatly deteriorated before the latest clashes, he said, explaining that his organization suspended part of its activity due to the bloody confrontations in Gaza.

UNRWA will focus in the coming stage on operating projects that would ensure work for the unemployed, he said, noting that 52 million dollars donated by the USA would help in re-operating the organization's emergency program.

Ging pointed out that the organization had never ceased functioning even during the bloody events despite the killing of two of its workers and the injury of two others.

 

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