EU agrees to back Palestinian unity government

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Friday to back a Palestinian national unity government being formed by President Mahmoud Abbas with the Hamas Islamist movement, despite U.S. misgivings.


"We agreed that we have to support the new Palestinian government. It's a very important turning point for the situation," Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema told Reuters."(EU foreign policy chief) Javier Solana told us in the platform there will be recognition by the new government of the treaty signed by the Palestinian Authority in the past -- it means recognize Israel as a partner," D'Alema said.

The EU and the United States have boycotted the Hamas-led government formed in March because it refused to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace accords.Washington said on Thursday it saw no grounds so far to lift the embargo on contacts and aid.But many European governments are anxious to end the stand-off, which has contributed to aggravated poverty and lawlessness in the Palestinian territories.

Source