PM Olmert meets with European Parliament President and US Congressmen
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(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today (Wednesday), 30 May 2007, met with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering. The two men discussed at length the situation in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the continued firing from the Gaza Strip at Israeli residents in the communities adjacent to it.
Prime Minister Olmert emphasized that he would not transfer funds to the PA as long as there were concerns that the funds would be used for terrorism. "The idea that Israel will unfreeze funds that will be used for terrorist activity against us is unacceptable," the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Olmert referred to the continuing psychological trauma of the children in the area and noted that it was his responsibility to see to it that Israeli children do not live under the daily threat of rockets.
The two men also discussed ways to improve the situation of the residents of the Gaza Strip and the possibility of industrial development in the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister emphasized his willingness but explained that investors will not invest in areas controlled by terrorists.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also met with four members of the US House of Representatives Democracy Assistance Commission (Rep. David Price, D-NC; Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-NE; Nick Rahall, D-WV; and Gwen Moore, D-WI) and with US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones. The commission members have been visiting countries that aspire to have stable parliaments and democratic systems and to this end have visited Lebanon.
Prime Minister Olmert briefed his guests on the Palestinian situation and described in detail the resolve of the residents of Sderot and the other communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip in light of the continuing Kassam rocket fire.
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Country: Israel
Subject: Security issues, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 30/05/2007