Hamas urges EU support
Hamas appeals to EU to dismiss plans of cutting aid to Palestinians
Gaza: A Hamas leader on Monday appealed to the European Union to dismiss plans of cutting aid to the Palestinian government.
"We call on you to understand the priorities of our Palestinian people at this stage and continue the spiritual and financial support in order to push the region towards stability rather than pressure and tension," Ismail Haniyeh said in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had said that the United States will not fund an armed Hamas, and urged European nations to do the same.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said the European Union could not provide direct financial support for a Palestinian government that included a militant Hamas.
The EU last year gave the Palestinian authority $615 million in aid.
Meanwhile, acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said Israel is freezing the transfer of $35 million to the Palestinian Authority.
"We are not going to transfer funds which could finance terrorist attacks against our civilians," Olmert said on public radio, a day after Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Zahar said the group will not recognise Israel.
