The European Parliament today endorsed the EU policy of continuing aid to the Palestinians provided a Hamas-led government commits itself to seeking peace with Israel and renounces violence.
The EU is the biggest donor to the Palestinians with €500 million of aid last year, the bulk of which comes from common EU funds. Any decision on EU aid requires European Parliament approval.
In their resolution, parliamentarians said future aid "will be dependent on the new government's clarification on denouncing violence and recognising Israel," reflecting the stance taken by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday.
The deputies also urged the Middle East Quartet - the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia - to take a "strong and urgent initiative" to promote negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.
Hamas, the militant Islamist group which has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, is on an EU list of banned terrorist groups.
Parliamentarians said in their resolution that Hamas's election triumph last week showed mainly the Palestinian people's desire for reform and dissatisfaction with their lot under the previous administration.