DOES THE U.S. WANT TO RESUME JIZYA PAYMENTS TO THE PALESTINIANS?!?

US seen edging towards easing on Palestinians
(Reuters)
20 September 2006

UNITED NATIONS - The United States may be willing to accept some easing of the West’s boycott of the Palestinian Authority as President Mahmoud Abbas tries to form a nationAl unity government, diplomats said.

Foreign ministers of the Quartet of international Middle East peace mediators—the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations—meet on Wednesday to discuss how to revive Middle East peace negotiations in the aftermath of the war in Lebanon.

UN and European diplomats said they are likely to welcome Abbas’ effort to establish a government spanning his moderate Fatah movement, the Islamist Hamas movement which defeated it in elections last January, and leading civil-society figures.

The West cut off aid and contact with the Hamas-led government formed in March after it refused to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace agreements.
But the boycott has contributed to worsening poverty and lawlessness in the Palestinian territories, and the Europeans are eager to find a way out.

Asked whether the United States agreed with the EU line, European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “As far as I know, more and more partners in the Quartet think this is they way out of the crisis,”

The 25 EU foreign ministers conveyed their support and encouragement to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting in New York on Tuesday, Ferrero-Waldner said.
The Europeans are hoping a new unity government will adopt some wording accepting past Palestine Liberation Organization peace declarations in way that satisfies the West’s conditions for engagement.

Washington remains skeptical, reflecting Israeli concerns that the government’s platform must contain real recognition of Israel’s right to exist and a commitment to end all violence.
The United States is not prepared to deal with Hamas at all and will only talk to Abbas, US officials say, noting the Palestinian leader has frozen talks on a unity government until he returns home from the United Nations.

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