CAIRO: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Sunday that Israel may yet recognize the Hamas-led Palestinian government, calling for an end to infighting between Palestinian factions. When we refer to the success of Hamas in the elections, Israel must decide whether it will recognize Hamas, and I think this is a possibility, said Moratinos in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo. Israel has set strict conditions for recognizing the Islamist group, currently listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Israel: renounce violence, recognize Israel and respect previous Palestinian Authority commitments. Moratinos, once the EU s special envoy to the Middle East, expressed concern over this week s violent confrontations between supporters of Fatah and Hamas after a power struggle ensued between both parties. We have to put an end to the confrontations between the Palestinians … we must guide the different factions to settle their differences, he said at the end of a two-day meeting of European and Mediterranean foreign ministers. The Hamas-led Palestinian government is facing a severe financial crisis after the United States and the European Union suspended aid. We have asked the government of Hamas to reduce violence … When Hamas responds in a positive manner, the EU will respond and there will be a mechanism to help the Palestinian people, said Moratinos.
It is not that the EU accuses Hamas of misuse of these donations. AFP
