The World Council of Churches (WCC) has asked the European Union (EU) to offer “respect for the democratic mandate given by [the recent Palestinian] elections and time for the new government to find its feet and demonstrate its intentions”.
The request comes following the Council of the European Union's endorsement of a temporary halt to direct aid to the Palestinian government headed by Hamas.A letter was written on 11th April by the WCC’s General Secretary, Rev Samuel Kobia addressing the Chair of the Council of the European Union, Austrian foreign minister Dr Ursula Plassnik.
In the correspondence, Kobia warned of the probability “of increasing suffering and new dangers to peace ahead”. This, Kobia said, would come as a consequence of “decisions being taken these very days by the EU and other members of the [UN Security Council's Middle East] Quartet”.
The EU Council confirmed that it was “reviewing its assistance to the Palestinians” in its meeting in Luxemburg that took place from 10-11 April. The review had come as a direct result of its “grave concern” that the new Palestinian government had “not committed itself [...] to non-violence, recognition of Israel's right to exist and acceptance of existing agreements”.
The council issued the warning that if such a commitment were not given then this would affect the direct assistance to the government that could be provided. However, it also noted that the EU would continue to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population, report the WCC.An earlier letter sent on 8th February from the WCC to the members of the UN Security Council's Middle East Quartet calling for the Quartet to exercise “constructive patience” and work in new ways to meet the situation emerging from the Palestinian elections which, as “an earnest exercise of democratic rights,” offers “opportunities for genuine progress towards peace”.
The WCC reaffirmed its long-standing condemnation of “all forms of violence against civilians”, and insisted that both Israelis and Palestinians have to be held to equitable terms and conditions for resolution of their conflict under international law.
The 8th February letter concluded, “If violence is incompatible with democracy and with peace, it is incompatible for both the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities.”
