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Split emerges among Israel, U.S., Europe over Palestinians
munaeem | 23 March, 2007 12:03
The U.S. is in the middle of an emerging division among allies in Israel and Europe over how to deal with a Palestinian coalition government that includes Hamas militants alongside Western-backed moderates.
Britain was urging the EU to follow a policy of opening contacts with the narrow majority of non-Hamas ministers in the new cabinet and finding ways of coordinating aid through Salam Fayyad, the internationally respected Finance Minister in the new government.
The differences are subtle so far, with Israel taking the toughest line against the power-sharing deal and Europe the most lenient. That leaves the Bush administration working to preserve its foothold in Mideast peace efforts and hard-fought harmony with European nations.
There were no public splits as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saw a stream of European diplomats this week. But diplomats and analysts say it will be hard to maintain a unified front for long.via
AP
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