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European Union Paying Palestinian Salaries

Following the election of terror group Hamas in January to the head of the Palestinian Authority, international sanctions led to the drying up of funds for the Palestinian government. Aid upon which the Palestinian Authority relied to pay the salaries of its workers was not forthcoming, and led to a brief campaign by Hamas leaders to travel the world to raise money for the ostracized government. Efforts to bypass the terror leaders of the PA and pay workers has been undertaken, with mixed results.

The goal of the European Union?s current payments of Palestinian civil servants, including teachers, is to establish a rapport with individual Palestinians and undermine support for Hamas, whose election was enabled by the Palestinians themselves. Even as the EU, and other countries, often state that they do not wish to cause harm to the Palestinians simply because they have a bad government, the world forgets that the Palestinians chose Hamas more than any other party.

After its election, Hamas faced its first test when international donors ? and the Europeans are the biggest to the PA ? suspended payments to Ramallah in order to pressure the Islamist terror group to renounce violence and recognize Israel?s right to exist. Hamas has proven a tough customer though, embarking on its own fundraising campaigns and remaining opposed in principle to negotiating with Israel, as this would imply recognition. Israel refuses to negotiate with the Hamas-led PA.