[Reuters] Allyn Fisher-Ilan - Israel sought on Monday to shore up European support for a U.S.-backed strategy of isolating Hamas in Gaza while freeing funds for Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said she would try to persuade EU foreign ministers in talks in Strasbourg, France, on Monday to continue an aid boycott against the Islamist Hamas which refuses to recognize Israel. The Bush administration plans to lift a ban on direct aid to Abbas' government this week. Washington wants to accelerate talks on Palestinian statehood between Olmert and Abbas in the West Bank while isolating Hamas in Gaza.
2007-06-18 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive