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Palestinians Denounce Western "Financial Blackmail"
(Al Jazeera) Khalid Amayreh - European officials recently warned the Palestinians that European countries were suffering from "donor fatigue" after spending billions of dollars in aid with limited results in achieving a lasting peace with the Israelis. "It has been made very clear to the Palestinians that just sitting around and waiting is not an option," said Lars Faaborg-Andersen, EU ambassador to Israel. "We have made it clear to the parties that there will be a price to pay if these negotiations falter." Each year the EU provides about $1.4 billion in assistance to the PA - by far its largest donor. Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO executive committee, said no leader would respond to "financial bullying" by international donors. "Any Palestinian leader budging under financial pressure from the U.S. or EU would lose public support, and if and when this happens, that leader is finished."