Israeli cabinet, Solana, comments on Hamas
(18 Dec 2005) Jerusalem, 18 December 2005 1. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon walking into cabinet meeting 2. Various of Israeli cabinet members walking into meeting 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dani Naveh, Israeli Health Minister: "Well, we all here welcome the U.S. Congress decision about Hamas. I believe it's a very important resolution that strengthens the Israeli position that such kind of fundamentalist terrorist organisation, like Hamas, cannot play a political role. As long as they are terrorist, and they are blood terrorist, it's obvious that they cannot play a political role." 4. Various of Israeli cabinet members walking into meeting 5. Wide of cabinet meeting 6. Sharon opening meeting 7. Wide of cabinet Tel Aviv, 18 Dec 2005 8. Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres shaking hands with European Union High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana 9. SOUNDBITE: (English ) Javier Solana, EU High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy "And I'd like to say today, because as you know the European Union, it's a very important donor for the Palestinian Authority. And it would be very difficult if the result of those elections, resolved in a manner that a party that has not clearly spoken on that (inaudible), is in power, or has a relation with power, it would be very difficult that the help and the money that goes to the Palestinian Authority would continue to flow." 10. Wide of meeting STORYLINE: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday where members expressed their support for the U.S House of Representatives warning to the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Friday warning the Palestinian Authority that it risks losing U.S. financial aid and other support if it lets Hamas participate in the election. The United States includes Hamas on its list of terror organisations. "I believe it's a very important resolution that strengthens the Israeli position that such kind of fundamentalist terrorist organisation, like Hamas, cannot play a political role," said Dani Naveh, Israeli Health Minister. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana also gave a similar warning on Sunday. Solana said that if Hamas wins next month's Palestinian elections and fails to renounce violence it could mean the end of EU aid to the Palestinian Authority, slated to reach 312 (m) million dollars US in 2006. "It would be very difficult for the help and the money that goes to the Palestinian Authority to continue to flow," Solana told reporters during a visit to Tel Aviv. The militant group Hamas has warned against "foreign interference" in upcoming Palestinian elections after this threat. Hamas has gained popularity through its welfare work and attacks against Israel. Its electoral success also reflects a growing view among Palestinians that Fatah is riddled with corruption and incapable of bringing law and order to the Palestinian streets. Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombing attacks, swept municipal elections this week in several West Bank locales. It is also fielding candidates for January 25 parliamentary elections, where it is expected to do well. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
