Abbas urges EU's Ashton: Activate regulations against Jewish West Bank settlements

PA President is currently touring EU countries to urge their leaders to proceed with regulations.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Abbas looking unhappy 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
Abbas looking unhappy 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday urged Catherine Ashton, European Union representative for foreign affairs and security policy, to activate EU regulations against settlements.
Last July, the EU issued guidelines that clarified its policy against providing grants, prizes or loans to Israeli entities, including nonprofit and educational institutions, located over the pre-1967 lines.
The restrictions are scheduled to go into effect on January 1.
But the PA leadership fears that, under pressure from the US administration, the EU could postpone or scrap its measures against settlements.
Abbas, who is currently touring a number of EU countries to urge their leaders to proceed with the restrictions, stressed during his meeting with Ashton in Brussels the importance of activating the EU restrictions regarding the settlements on time, official PA news agency Wafa reported.
The agency said that Abbas praised the stance of the EU on settlements which, he added, was “congruent with international law and resolutions.”
Thursday’s meeting between Abbas and Ashton was attended by chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat and PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki.
Abbas also briefed Ashton on the peace talks with Israel and the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Abbas’s meeting with Ashton came one day after he called on firms in Europe and elsewhere to stop doing business with settlements.
Abbas made the call following a meeting in Brussels with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council.