ISRAEL: Visiting Israel at a time when relations between the European Union and the Jewish state are distinctly chilly, foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana yesterday directed criticism at Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat, saying the EU might "rethink" its policy toward him and his Palestinian Authority, if the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Ahmed Qurei goes into effect.
In Gaza, meanwhile, three members of the radical Islamic Jihad group were killed last night when an Israeli helicopter fired missiles at their car as they were driving in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Mr Solana said if Mr Qurei left office, then "we will have to rethink a lot of things." The Palestinian prime minister tendered his resignation last Saturday over growing chaos in Gaza and Mr Arafat's refusal to allow reforms of the Palestinian security service. Asked by reporters if his comments were also directed at Mr Arafat, Mr Solana responded: "That and a lot of things." Despite his remarks, Mr Solana was not a welcome guest in Israel, where government ministers are still fuming over the decision by European Union states to support a UN General Assembly resolution earlier this week that called for the dismantling of the security barrier Israel is building in the West Bank. Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon met Mr Solana but refused to pose for a joint press photograph, and he questioned whether the EU could play a constructive role in a Middle East peace process.
"Israel is interested in involving the international community, especially Europe in the process with the Palestinians," said a statement from Mr Sharon's office. "But in light of its one-sided positions regarding Israel's security problems it will be difficult to cooperate and build confidence." Palestinian leaders, who view the barrier as an Israeli land-grab, hailed the UN decision. Israeli officials said the world body had ignored its right to self-defence and that the barrier was being built to block suicide bombers.
UN officials, meanwhile, said they were planning to evacuate all non-essential staff from Gaza. The decision comes in the wake of the recent abduction of four French foreign aid workers, but UNWRA officials said the main fear was staff being caught in the crossfire between militants and Israeli soldiers.