CAIRO — Egyptian officials called on Hamas yesterday to recognize Israel, renounce violence and honor past peace deals, echoing conditions proposed in London this week for continued U.S. and European aid to the Palestinian Authority.
U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar, however, reportedly promised a total of $33 million in immediate aid to the Palestinian Authority, helping to offset Israel’s announcement that it was freezing a $45 million payment due to the authority this month in tax rebates and customs payments.
An unidentified Palestinian official described the Arab promise to the Associated Press, saying the money would be used to pay the January salaries of 137,000 employees. He said Saudi Arabia had promised $20 million and Qatar had pledged $13 million.
President Hosni Mubarak urged Western countries to continue aid to the Palestinians after a meeting in Cairo with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but made clear that a Hamas-led authority would be isolated if it did not meet the Western conditions, which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Monday.
“Nobody will talk to [Hamas] before they stop violence, recognize Israel and accept [peace] agreements, including the road map,” the chief of Egypt’s intelligence service, Omar Suleiman, told reporters after the meeting.
Officials said Mr. Mubarak had asked Mr. Abbas to remain as Palestinian leader, despite sharp criticism from some in Hamas and disappointed elements of his own Fatah party.
In the West Bank, Palestinian officials warned that chaos could erupt if the Palestinian Authority was unable to pay workers, and noted that Israel’s payment for January was several days late.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told the AP that the payment had been suspended because of “a concern on our side that the moneys transferred will come back to haunt us in the form of suicide bombings.”
As Arab nations come to terms with Hamas’ unexpected parliamentary victory last week, Egypt is asserting itself as a key player. Mr. Suleiman met with Hamas officials in Damascus Tuesday, and a Hamas delegation led by Khalid Meshaal is expected in Cairo soon.
Egypt can play a unique role as an interlocutor in the crisis because of its working relationship with all of the key players — Mr. Abbas’ Fatah movement, Israel, the United States and Hamas, with which it helped broker a cease-fire agreement last year. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also met with Mr. Mubarak in Cairo yesterday.
“The most important thing now is just to quiet the situation and bring some order to the Palestinian side,” said Hassan Hafa’a, chairman of the department of political science at Cairo University, explaining Egypt’s strategy.
“It is much better for the Palestinians to work together in a unified government that will assume collective responsibility and manage the conflict with Israel.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.