EU SUSPENDS DIRECT AID TO P.A.

EU Suspends Aid to Palestinian Authority - David Gow and Conal Urquhart
The EU Monday increased the pressure on the Hamas-led PA to recognize Israel and renounce terrorist violence by suspending all direct aid to the new government. Europe is the largest single donor to the Palestinian territories, providing 500m euros a year, of which just under half goes directly to the PA. (Guardian-UK)

SEE ALSO: Time for Palestinians to Take the Blame - David Renni
At an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, Jack Straw, the UK Foreign Secretary, said, "We do not wish to punish the Palestinian people for the decision they freely made to elect a Hamas-dominated government." Um, why not? Hamas has been blowing up civilian men, women, and children for many years, and has a charter that calls for Israel to be driven into the sea. Why should Europe not act chilly towards a people for freely choosing it? I do not see why electing Hamas should carry no consequences for the Palestinian people. (Telegraph-UK)