E.U. holds off on P.A. decision

The European Union is holding off on finalizing policy toward the new Palestinian Authority unity government, a top official said. External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Monday that the body would wait until the new Fatah-Hamas alliance distributes Cabinet posts and settles on a policy toward Israel, The Associated Press reported. ”We simply cannot decide yet when, or even if, we will be able to
re-engage with the new Palestinian government of national unity because
we will need to see its program and we will need to see its actions,” Ferrero-Waldner said in Brussels on the sidelines of a meeting of E.U. foreign ministers. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is scheduled to address E.U. leaders Monday on Israel’s doubts regarding the power-sharing deal
between the somewhat moderate Fatah movement and Hamas, which refuses
to renounce terrorism or recognize Israel.