U.S. rules out funds for Hamas-
led government by Hasan Suroor dated in The Hindu dated dated 31.1.2006 Palestinian policemen stand on the roof of the Parliament building after they took over the compound in Gaza City on Monday, in protest against the Hamas's election victory. The policemen, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah, fear that control of the force will be transferred to the militia. LONDON: A big question mark hung over the future of millions of dollars worth of international
aid to the Palestinian Authority as representatives from America, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, gathered here on Monday to discuss the issue amid threats by major donors to stop the
funding unless Hamas renounced violence and recognised Israel's right to exist. Hamas, which is poised to form the new Palestinian government after last week's democratically-held elections, is regarded as a terrorist organisation by America and Europe and both made clear on Monday that they would not directly fund a Hamas-led administration if it did not give up its weapons and accepted the West-sponsored peace process.
Tough approach The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is attending the London meeting, signalled a tough line saying that America would not give money to a Hamas-run Palestinian Authority. The United States is not prepared to fund an organisation that advocates the destruction of Israel, that advocates violence and that refuses its obligations under the road map to which everyone is committed was said by Rice.European leaders also talked tough with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruling out direct funding to a government led by Hamas. Observers said the U.S. and the E.U., the biggest contributors of aid to PA, clearly planned to use aid as a lever to force Hamas to soften its stance on Israel. Hopes of a compromise were raised after a senior Hamas leader, Ismail Haniya, was reported as saying that no aid money would be used to attack Israel or its citizens. Mr. Haniya appealed to the E.U. leaders not to stop the funding and called for unconditional talks to resolve the controversy.
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