Palestinians in ‘dire need’ of US help, says Abbas
NEW YORK • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told US President George W Bush here yesterday that the Palestinians, who face their worst fiscal and political crisis in years, were in “dire need” of US help.
Bush recommitted himself to US-backed efforts to create a Palestinian state living side by side at peace with Israel, but made no public offers to end the international boycott of the Palestinian government led by Hamas militants.
“Mister President, we look forward to your support and your help and your aid because we are in dire need for your help and support,” Abbas said as they met here on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
“I assure you that our government wants to work with you in order so that you’re capable of delivering the vision that so many Palestinians long for,” the US president said during a joint public appearance.
Bush called the two-state Middle East peace solution “one of the great objectives of my administration” and took pains to praise Abbas.
“I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace. And you are such a leader, Mister President,” said Bush.
Deputy US national security adviser Elliott Abrams said that the US position of denying direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, under control of Hamas, was “unchanged” but that Washington was providing indirect humanitarian aid.
He told reporters that US humanitarian aid was reaching the Palestinians through non-governmental organisations and parts of the Palestinian Authority not under Hamas control, either independent or answering to Abbas.
But unless the Palestinian government led by Hamas, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation, recognises Israel and renounces violence “our lack of a relationship with them will not change,” said Abrams.
Asked whether Abbas had brought up the issue of increased US aid, Abrams replied: “He didn’t raise the issue directly because I think he understood what our ground rules are.”
“The ground rules won’t change,” he said, adding that the Middle East “quartet” of the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and Europe would meet here yesterday and that he hoped it would “take a position close to American policy.”
“We’d like to see the quartet commend the efforts that president Abbas is making,” he said. “There is a kind of stalemate on the Palestinian side, because of the inability of his government to win international legitimacy.”
“He’s trying to figure out a way out of that, and we certainly hope he succeeds,” he said. Bush and Abbas met aft er the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniyah, rejected conditions set by the Middle East quartet for resuming direct aid.
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Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abou Rudeina said Bush and Abbas had “frank and positive” talks and that Abbas had discussed his efforts “to form a national unity government that respects the agreements signed by the (Palestinian Liberation Organisation.”
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Haniyah rejects quartet’s terms for aid
GAZA CITY • Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah yesterday rejected conditions set by the so-called Middle East quartet for resuming direct financial aid to the Palestinian administration.
“Conditions are being imposed on the Palestinian people. They want us to condemn the resistance and that we recognise (international) agreements,” he told hundreds of Palestinians rallying in support of his Hamas-led government.
“We are sticking by the national reconciliation document which does not recognise the legality of the occupation and reaffirms the legality of the resistance” that will “continue,” Haniya added.
The quartet — European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the US — has demanded Haniyah’s radical governing movement Hamas formally recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by past peace agreements.
“We do not want to damage the interests of the Palestinian people,” added Haniya, making clear that in his eyes, that meant not capitulating.
The European Union and US cut direct aid to the aid-dependent Palestinian government after Haniyah’s Hamas-led cabinet took office in March because of the Islamist movement’s refusal to accept the conditions.
Pertinent Links:
1) Palestinians in ‘dire need’ of US help, says Abbas
2) Haniyah rejects quartet’s terms for aid
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