EU Gives Urgent Aid To Palestinians, Warns Hamas

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said a Hamas-led government must recognize Israel and its past accords with the Palestinians.

Separately, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels considered the bloc's future financial aid to the Palestinians after Hamas on March 19 put forward a new cabinet list dominated by members of the militant group.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said Hamas will have to decide which road to take for the sake of the well-being of the Palestinians.

EU officials say the emergence of a Hamas government may jeopardize up to 80 percent of the EU's 500 million euros ($609 million) in annual aid for the Palestinians.

(AP)