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EU to discuss Palestinian boycott EU to discuss Palestinian boycott
(about 2 hours later)
EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the new deal on a Palestinian national unity government, and how they should respond to it.EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the new deal on a Palestinian national unity government, and how they should respond to it.
For more than a year, the EU, with the US and Russia, has kept up an economic boycott of the Palestinian government.For more than a year, the EU, with the US and Russia, has kept up an economic boycott of the Palestinian government.
This followed the election of an administration dominated by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel.This followed the election of an administration dominated by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel.
Leading EU nations have so far reacted to the deal in different ways. The ministers earlier approved sanctions against Iran.
Officials said the decision was broadly in line with a United Nations Security Council resolution in December imposing sanctions targeting the country's nuclear programme.
But EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the door was still open for further negotiations with Iran.
The United States believes that Iran is working to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and has vowed to continue.
Funding increase
Leading EU nations have so far reacted to the Palestinians' deal in different ways.
Our people and our society cannot continue under this tough and unjustified siege so we hope that [the EU] will deal with this significant development positively Nabil AmrPalestinian presidential adviser
France has said that the new government, agreed in talks between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas in Mecca last week, should be encouraged and supported.France has said that the new government, agreed in talks between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas in Mecca last week, should be encouraged and supported.
Germany has been more hesitant, while the UK has described the new agreement only as interesting.Germany has been more hesitant, while the UK has described the new agreement only as interesting.
Most aid bypasses the Palestinian Authority, and European Commission spokeswoman Emma Unwin said total EU funding increased last year to 665m euros ($865m), up from around 460m euros in previous years.
However, Palestinian presidential media adviser Nabil Amr said he hoped the Mecca agreement would encourage the EU to help Palestinians.
"Our people and our society cannot continue under this tough and unjustified siege so we hope that they will deal with this significant development positively," he told the BBC.
"I hope that they will put an end to this siege and to continue our systematic relations with the EU."