Israeli cabinet approves sanctions on Palestinians

The measures, which include a series of economic sanctions, went into force Sunday, a day after the inauguration of a Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament, a senior government official said.

The sanctions, which were more moderate than expected, include a freeze on the monthly

transfer of tax duties owed to the PA that are worth some 50 million dollars and constitute around a third of the Palestinian budget.

Opening the cabinet meeting, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made clear that Israel considered any Hamas-led government as little more than "a terrorist regime" and would immediately halt any transfer of funds.

"In light of the Hamas majority in the PLC (parliament) and the instructions to form a new government that were given to the head of Hamas, it is clear the PA is, in practice, becoming a terrorist authority," Olmert said.

"Upon the conclusion of the transitional government, Israel will immediately cease the transfer of funds to the PA," he said.

The move was immediately slammed by Ismail Haniya just hours after he was named as Hamas's choice for prime minister.

"The decision is designed to make the Palestinian people bow down and subdue their will by subverting their democratic choice," Haniya told reporters in Gaza.

"This decision will not intimidate us and the incoming government. We have dealt with all the challenges in the past and we will deal with these new challenges."

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was due in Gaza later Sunday for talks with the radical movement about forming a new government.

The cabinet also approved measures aimed at encouraging the international community to "discontinue all financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, not including humanitarian assistance provided directly to the Palestinian people".

The sanctions also prohibit the transfer of equipment to the Palestinian security forces.

They likewise involve heavy restrictions on the movement of anyone belonging to or allied with Hamas -- including MPs and other senior elected officials.

"Crossings will be prevented and movement will be restricted of people affiliated with Hamas, including those elected to the Palestinian parliament, in all areas under Israeli control," it said.

Although the cabinet stopped short of approving a ban on the entry of Palestinian workers from Gaza, security measures at the main Erez and Karni crossing into Israel would be stepped up, both for workers and goods.

"As long as Hamas does not accept the conditions laid down by Israel, the European Union and the United States, we will see the progressive erosion of our relationship with the PA," a senior government official quoted Olmert as saying.

"Each one of our decisions must be well-considered and re-examined. We do not want to provoke a humanitarian crisis," the official quoted him as saying.

"We are not fighting the civilian population, but against a terrorist power," he said. "It was already difficult for us to reach a peace agreement before and now it is clear it will be totally impossible."

The sanctions were angrily denounced by Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina, who criticised Olmert's team for implementing a change of policy even before a new government had been chosen.

"This an over-hasty decision and they should at least wait until a Palestinian cabinet has been declared," he told AFP.

Source

FAIR USE NOTICE

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.