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| US, EU restore Palestinian ties |
| The US and the EU are to normalise ties with the new Palestinian government, lifting embargoes on aid to support an administration without Hamas.
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 19-June-2007
4:21:41 AM |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice promised "full assistance" to the Palestinian Authority and emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza via the UN.
The EU is assessing ways of resuming direct aid, while Israel said the new cabinet was a "genuine partner".
The previous government was sacked after Hamas seized control of Gaza.
In a separate development on Monday, one Palestinian was killed and several injured after Palestinian gunmen and Israeli soldiers exchanged fire at the Erez crossing, the Israeli rescue service and Palestinian medics said.
The crossing is the main point for people travelling between Israel and Gaza.
'Genuine partner'
Speaking in Washington, Ms Rice welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' choice for new prime minister, Salam Fayyad.
As a result of his appointment, she said, the US would resume diplomatic contacts with the Palestinians, suspended since Hamas came to power after winning elections in January 2006.
She criticised Hamas, which she said had tried to impose an extremist agenda on the Palestinian people.
"It is the duty of the international community to support those Palestinians who wish to build a better life, and a future of peace," Ms Rice added.
She also announced $40 million (£20 million) of emergency aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which runs relief efforts in Gaza, now controlled by Hamas.
Earlier, in a 15-minute phone call with President George W Bush, Mr Abbas said the time was now right to push for new peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is to meet Mr Bush in Washington on Tuesday, said he considered the new Palestinian government a "genuine partner".
And speaking at an EU meeting in Luxembourg, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni confirmed that up to $800m (£400m) of frozen tax revenues held by Israel would now be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.
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