Source: Agence France Presse
Apr 04, 2007
In a somewhat surprising statement, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Monday demanded more peace gestures from the "Palestinians" before Paris agrees to restart the flow of financial aid.
Following his meeting in the French capital with newly-installed Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, Douste-Blazy said France is eager to renew aid to the "Palestinians," but wants to see more concrete steps toward peace with Israel.
Said Douste-Blazy:
The international community must progressively begin a resumption of aid to the finance ministry of the Palestinian territories with the condition that the national unity government adheres to the commitments it has made and that it makes more gestures.
In particular, France wants to see PLO chief and PA "president" Mahmoud Abbas honor his commitment to secure the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Shalit, who is also a citizen of France, was kidnapped by Hamas-affiliated terrorists outside the Gaza Strip on June 25, 2006.