| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.8, No.12, 28.3.02, p2 |
| Publication Date | 28/03/2002 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 28/03/02 By ISRAEL admits that its destruction of EU-funded projects in the occupied territories has not deterred Palestinian violence. Chris Patten, the external relations commissioner, last week stated that Israeli defence forces have caused at least €19 million worth of damage to developments financed by the Union. He expressed his view that inflicting damage worth about €9.3 million on Gaza airport would be unlikely to make disaffected Arabs less inclined to become suicide bombers. A spokesman for Israel's EU embassy said the EU-funded infrastructure was not hit for 'the sheer joy of destruction' but as part of measures aimed at 'sending signals' to Palestinian Authority (PA) chief Yasser Arafat. 'We were trying to convince Arafat to leave the path of terror and go back to negotiations,' the diplomat added. The diplomat cited documents seized from the PA's Orient House headquarters as evidence of Arafat's support for terrorism. Recent press reports say these include a letter from last July, in which Arafat approved a €350 payment to Atef Abayat, leader of Islamic militant group, the Al Aqsa Brigades. |
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| Countries / Regions | Middle East |
