The European Union presidency issued a statement Sunday welcoming the new government, expressing its ‘readiness to cooperate with the Palestinian government‘ if it follows the principles of the Quartet.
European leaders say that as long as the new government continues to abide by the Palestinian agreement made in Mecca on 8 February, the EU is ready to support it. The EU is willing to ‘provide support again‘ and included five points demanded of the Israelis, including ‘the payment of frozen taxes and customs duties‘ owed to the Palestinians.
On the other hand, the German presidency says it will ‘support all efforts aimed at the release‘ of the Israeli soldier captured while invading the southern Gaza Strip in June 2006. The EU called for ‘the immediate release of Palestinian ministers and deputies being held in Israeli prisons.‘
On Monday the German Foreign Minister and the coordinator of EU Foreign Policy will meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss ways in which to deal with the Palestinian coalition government comprised in large part by the Hamas and Fateh parties.
The United States and Israel are not ready to deal with the new government. The US has conditions that are much more conciliatory to the Israelis than does the EU.
During the weekly Israeli cabinet meeting today a decision was made to not deal with any member of the Palestinian government, regardless of party affiliation.