UNITED NATIONS, 21 September 2006 — The diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East yesterday gave key backing to efforts by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to form a national unity government with Hamas.
A meeting of top officials from the Quartet, comprising the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, also renewed temporary emergency financial aid for the Palestinian territories for three months.
“The Quartet welcomes the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement,” the Quartet said in a statement.
Abbas is trying to build a coalition of his Fatah party and Hamas that defeated it in elections in January. The West has boycotted the Hamas-led government formed in March because it refused to recognize Israel and renounce violence and abide by commitments made by the previous government.
The use of the term “reflect” allows Abbas some leeway for what may be an oblique formula for recognizing past Palestine Liberation Organization agreements.
The statement, endorsed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, mirrored almost word for word an EU statement last week. UN and European diplomats said it represented a significant easing of the United States’ stance toward the Palestinian Authority since Hamas took it over this year.
The statement also called for a three-month extension and expansion of a temporary mechanism that channels aid to the Palestinians bypassing the existing Hamas-led government.
The Quartet also encouraged Israel to transfer some $500 million in Palestinian tax and customs revenue that it is withholding to keep the money out of Hamas hands.
The Quartet indirectly criticized Israel for maintaining its closure of the Gaza Strip and restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the occupied West Bank, calling on the parties to implement fully all aspects of an agreement on movement and access.
Earlier in the day, President George W. Bush called Abbas a “man of courage” for trying to revive Mideast peace talks. The two leaders met while they were in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. In a speech there on Tuesday, Bush said achieving peace in the Middle East was one of the great objectives of his presidency.
“I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace,” Bush said at the end of his meeting with Abbas when reporters were invited in. “And you are such a leader, Mr. President.”
