Quartet awaits Hamas takeover before cutting funds

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said on Monday that the Quartet, consisting of the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the EU, agreed to wait until Hamas takes power before deciding on funding to the Palestinian government. Solana, speaking to reporters, said the Quartet held a telephone conference call to discuss the latest developments after Israel moved to withhold tax funds it collects for Palestinians as talks began on formation of a Palestinian government to be led by Hamas. According to the foreign policy chief, the EU was trying to put new aid together to give to a World Bank trust fund which is used to disburse funds to the Palestinian Authority. He said the Quartet would hold a teleconference meeting every week "to follow the situation on the ground, to check how the situation evolves in the coming weeks."